---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt…"
description: "\"When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow brush with which his imagination was paintin..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg"
---

#  When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold…

![“When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow brush with which his imagination was painting wonders of her. He watched her from the corners of his eyes as ever he did when he walked with her-- she was a feast and a folly and he wished it…” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg)

> “When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow brush with which his imagination was painting wonders of her. He watched her from the corners of his eyes as ever he did when he walked with her-- she was a feast and a folly and he wished it had been his destiny to sit forever on a haystack and see life through her green eyes.”

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He is overwhelmed by fear and awe when close to Eleanor, seeing her as both inspiration and danger.

**In simple terms:** Fear and fascination mix when love feels powerful.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when admiration becomes fear.

Themes

love fear inspiration destiny

Mood

conflicted intense

Type

literary romantic

When to use this quote

- romantic pursuit
- creative inspiration
- personal insecurity

Key Concepts

Romantic idealism psychological tension

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you let fear dictate how you view love?
- How can admiration become a source of dread?

A Different Perspective

His fear may blind him to genuine connection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/)

## Related quotes

> [“Chartette…… It’s getting overcrowded here…… Move to the right a little……" "Hey! Ney! Your arm touched my boobs. You pervert!" "I didn’t want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/chartette-it-s-getting-overcrowded-here-move-to-the-right-a-little/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Craving more of her touch, i shifted on the floor so my arm touched her shoulder. Echo's lips never moved, but my siren sang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/craving-more-of-her-touch-i-shifted-on-the-floor-so-my-arm-touched/)

[Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/)

> [“I almost touch her on the arm as she touched me on the arm, to console her. But I fear that my touch won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-almost-touch-her-on-the-arm-as-she-touched-me-on-the-arm-to-console/)

[Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/)

> [“He didn't say anything. Then he leaned closer, so that his arm touched my shoulder. A jolt ran down my body. Everyone in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-selfors/he-didn-t-say-anything-then-he-leaned-closer-so-that-his-arm-touched/)

[Suzanne Selfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-selfors/)

> [For years afterwards when Amory thought of Eleanor he seemed still to hear the wind sobbing around him and sending little chills into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/for-years-afterwards-when-amory-thought-of-eleanor-he-seemed-still-to/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“Burnett let out a low growl and motioned for the agent to leave. Then he glanced back at Miranda. "How were you able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/burnett-let-out-a-low-growl-and-motioned-for-the-agent-to-leave-then/)

[C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/)

> [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/)

[Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/)

> [Her underwear, her jeans, the comforter, my corduroys and my boxers between us, I thought. Five layers, and yet I felt it, the nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/her-underwear-her-jeans-the-comforter-my-corduroys-and-my-boxers/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“I knew looking into those soulful green eyes that she was stronger than I'd ever been. She'd pulled herself together after I'd torn her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/i-knew-looking-into-those-soulful-green-eyes-that-she-was-stronger/)

[Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/)

> [“I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. Fuck me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/i-gazed-into-her-beautiful-green-eyes-and-her-fear-melted-a-shy-smile/)

[Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/)

> [“The old man stared at me with his bright green eyes. “You’re Gin Blanco, Genevieve Snow, and the Spider all rolled into one. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/the-old-man-stared-at-me-with-his-bright-green-eyes-you-re-gin-blanco/)

[Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/)

> [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/)

[Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/)

> [“Sydney Katherine Sage,” he said, his green eyes full of love and earnestness. “Would you do a brooding, deadbeat Moroi the honor of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sydney-katherine-sage-he-said-his-green-eyes-full-of-love-and/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“She was every bit of everything he remembered about her, all at once and all at the same time. That was Kerry McCrae in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/she-was-every-bit-of-everything-he-remembered-about-her-all-at-once/)

[Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/)

> [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/)

[Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/)

## More by F. Scott Fitzgerald

> [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-a-ripe-mystery-about-it-a-hint-of-bedrooms-upstairs-more/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [I found something! Courage--just that; courage as a rule of life and something to cling to always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-found-something-courage-just-that-courage-as-a-rule-of-life-and/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“Life is a series of successful gestures...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-a-series-of-successful-gestures/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“Another dawn flung itself across the river; a belated taxi hurried along the street, its lamps still shining like burning eyes in a face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/another-dawn-flung-itself-across-the-river-a-belated-taxi-hurried/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“I'm one of those people who go through the world giving other people thrills but getting few myself except those I read into men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-go-through-the-world-giving-other-people/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“You loved me too?" he repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-loved-me-too-he-repeated/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“He was good looking, "sort of distinguished when he wants to be", had a line, and was properly inconstant. In fact, he summed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-good-looking-sort-of-distinguished-when-he-wants-to-be-had-a/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [What are you going to do? "Can't say - run for president, write -" "Greenwich Village?" "Good heavens, no - I said write -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-are-you-going-to-do-can-t-say-run-for-president-write-greenwich/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“The latter was considered a good fellow and a fine leader, until a year later, when he disappeared with a mess fund of eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-latter-was-considered-a-good-fellow-and-a-fine-leader-until-a/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

> [“It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-eluded-us-then-but-that-s-no-matter-tomorrow-we-will-run-faster/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

[Explore all 1,568 F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow brush with which his imagination was painting wonders of her. He watched her from the corners of his eyes as ever he did when he walked with her-- she was a feast and a folly and he wished it had been his destiny to sit forever on a haystack and see life through her green eyes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "F. Scott Fitzgerald"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-his-hands-grow-cold-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-his-hands-grow-cold-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_arms_when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-h_1194226.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow…” — F. Scott Fitzgerald",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "F. Scott Fitzgerald",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When Eleanor's arm touched his he...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-his-hands-grow-cold-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/when-eleanor-s-arm-touched-his-he-felt-his-hands-grow-cold-with/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
