---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I almost cried. But I didn't, because if…"
description: "\"“I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh grade and you cry while wearing a blue floral cape and yellow tights with white feathers on..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg"
---

#  I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh…

![“I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh grade and you cry while wearing a blue floral cape and yellow tights with white feathers on the butt, you just have to curl up and die somewhere in a dark alley.” quote by Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg)

> ““I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh grade and you cry while wearing a blue floral cape and yellow tights with white feathers on the butt, you just have to curl up and die somewhere in a dark alley.””

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

## About This Quote

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

A dramatic, hyperbolic description of teenage embarrassment underscores the intensity of adolescent social anxiety.

**In simple terms:** Teen angst can feel overwhelming.

Key Takeaway

Accept and process intense emotions healthfully.

Themes

adolescence vulnerability identity

Mood

empathetic intense

Type

narrative emotive

When to use this quote

- school life
- performance pressure
- social media exposure

Key Concepts

social anxiety self‑esteem

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you cope with feeling exposed?
- What supports help you feel safe?

A Different Perspective

The hyperbole may exaggerate typical teen experiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Seventh grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventh-grade/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [“sticking feathers up your butt,Tyler says,does not make you a chicken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticking-feathers-up-your-butt-tyler-says-does-not-make-you-a-chicken/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“Shoving feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/shoving-feathers-up-your-butt-does-not-make-you-a-chicken/)

[Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/)

> [Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticking-feathers-up-your-butt-does-not-make-you-a-chicken/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [“I try to hear her voice, try to separate that single pitch from the shouts and applause. But she’s as lost to me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-try-to-hear-her-voice-try-to-separate-that-single-pitch-from-the/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [“I didn't want to hurt him!" Ender cried. "Why didn't he just leave me alone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-didn-t-want-to-hurt-him-ender-cried-why-didn-t-he-just-leave-me/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [“Mama," Peter cried. She didn't look up. The door shut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brom/mama-peter-cried-she-didn-t-look-up-the-door-shut/)

[Brom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brom/)

> [I didn't cry cause she told me she loved me. I cried because I didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-quinonez/i-didn-t-cry-cause-she-told-me-she-loved-me-i-cried-because-i-didn-t/)

[Francisco Quinonez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-quinonez/)

> [I was, not an altar boy, but a reader of the Epistle, and I walked in on a nun and a priest furiously French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-not-an-altar-boy-but-a-reader-of-the-epistle-and-i-walked-in-on/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Before this trip he was my best friend... And now, well, do you realize how hot he is? I mean like wow. When did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-mae/before-this-trip-he-was-my-best-friend-and-now-well-do-you-realize/)

[Cassie Mae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-mae/)

> [In White Boy Shuffle, I combined my seventh-grade teacher, Mr. Takemoto, who really saved me - I don't think I've ever told anyone this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/in-white-boy-shuffle-i-combined-my-seventh-grade-teacher-mr-takemoto/)

[Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/)

> [“It’s not even 8:00 a.m., and I’ve already had my trombone stolen. I fucking hate seventh grade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-porpora/it-s-not-even-8-00-a-m-and-i-ve-already-had-my-trombone-stolen-i/)

[Kenny Porpora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-porpora/)

> [Somewhere around the fifth or seventh grade I figured out that I could ingratiate myself to people by making them laugh. Essentially, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/somewhere-around-the-fifth-or-seventh-grade-i-figured-out-that-i/)

[Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/)

> [We went to public schools from kindergarten through seventh grade, and it was fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-sprouse/we-went-to-public-schools-from-kindergarten-through-seventh-grade-and/)

[Dylan Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-sprouse/)

> [It wasn't until I got into seventh grade, I think, that I realized that doing plays might be a fun thing, and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-parnell/it-wasn-t-until-i-got-into-seventh-grade-i-think-that-i-realized-that/)

[Chris Parnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-parnell/)

> [Then all this started to pick up because I signed with ForeFront when I was in seventh grade. It got a lot busier and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/then-all-this-started-to-pick-up-because-i-signed-with-forefront-when/)

[Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/)

## More by Gary D. Schmidt

> [Reader, I kissed her. A quiet walk we had, she and I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/reader-i-kissed-her-a-quiet-walk-we-had-she-and-i/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“If Mrs. Baker Hates your guts, why don't get some.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/if-mrs-baker-hates-your-guts-why-don-t-get-some/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [When 1:45 came, half the class left, and Danny Hupfer whispered, "If she gives you a cream puff after we leave, I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/when-1-45-came-half-the-class-left-and-danny-hupfer-whispered-if-she/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“No storm is forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/no-storm-is-forever/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“Don't look so surprised. You didn't think I'd spent my whole life behind this desk, did you?" And I suddenly realized that, well, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/don-t-look-so-surprised-you-didn-t-think-i-d-spent-my-whole-life/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [Why can't poets just say what they want to say and then shut up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/why-can-t-poets-just-say-what-they-want-to-say-and-then-shut-up/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [No matter what happens, there is always the business of the world to attend to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/no-matter-what-happens-there-is-always-the-business-of-the-world-to/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“sometimes it feels as if life is governed by the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/sometimes-it-feels-as-if-life-is-governed-by-the-slings-and-arrows-of/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [Lizzie Bright Griffin, do you ever wish the world would just go ahead and swallow you whole?" "Sometimes I do," she said, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/lizzie-bright-griffin-do-you-ever-wish-the-world-would-just-go-ahead/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“He missed him like he would miss the sun if it fell out of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/he-missed-him-like-he-would-miss-the-sun-if-it-fell-out-of-the-sky/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [Think of the sound you make when you let go after holding your breath for a very, very long time. Think of the gladdest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/think-of-the-sound-you-make-when-you-let-go-after-holding-your-breath/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [“...and she ran out of the diesel combustion and right to me and we held each other and we were not empty at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/and-she-ran-out-of-the-diesel-combustion-and-right-to-me-and-we-held/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [Whatever it means to be a friend, taking a black eye for someone has to be in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/whatever-it-means-to-be-a-friend-taking-a-black-eye-for-someone-has/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [Learn everything you can - everything. And then use all that you have learned to grow up too be a wise and good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/learn-everything-you-can-everything-and-then-use-all-that-you-have/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

> [OKAY. So I was going to the library every Saturday. So what? So what? It's not like I was reading books or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/okay-so-i-was-going-to-the-library-every-saturday-so-what-so-what-it/)

[Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

[Explore all 86 Gary D. Schmidt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/)

## More Cried quotes

> [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [“In the streets, the children scream, the lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,” he crooned, putting down the metal grill tongs to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/in-the-streets-the-children-scream-the-lovers-cried-and-the-poets/)

[Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [I was overcome by the Holy Ghost one time, but in a Baptist way. I was six or seven, and I was saved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/i-was-overcome-by-the-holy-ghost-one-time-but-in-a-baptist-way-i-was/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/)

[Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/)

> [“So you aren’t going to tell me what just happened?” I deduced. The fact was clearly readable across his face. He looked me over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markelle-grabo/so-you-aren-t-going-to-tell-me-what-just-happened-i-deduced-the-fact/)

[Markelle Grabo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markelle-grabo/)

> [Blind with love, my daughter has cried nightly for horses, those long-necked marchers and churners that she has mastered, any and all, reigning them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/blind-with-love-my-daughter-has-cried-nightly-for-horses-those-long/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [Yes, I'm a nice man and I enjoy babies. I'm a sensitive guy. I held a baby the other day and it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/yes-i-m-a-nice-man-and-i-enjoy-babies-i-m-a-sensitive-guy-i-held-a/)

[Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/)

> [“She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful &amp; life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/she-said-she-usually-cried-at-least-once-each-day-not-because-she-was/)

[Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/)

> [“I was so over crying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/i-was-so-over-crying/)

[Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/)

> [The first person who, having enclosed a plot of land, took it into his head to say this is mine and found people simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/the-first-person-who-having-enclosed-a-plot-of-land-took-it-into-his/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [My mom is a Twilight fan as well and she's just as excited because she's read all the books so I think she wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-greene/my-mom-is-a-twilight-fan-as-well-and-she-s-just-as-excited-because/)

[Ashley Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-greene/)

> [“I tried cutting myself to express my heartbreak over Tommy (Lord Flood) rejecting me, but OMFG it hurts like flaming fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-tried-cutting-myself-to-express-my-heartbreak-over-tommy-lord-flood/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

Browse all 1,318 Cried quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh grade and you cry while wearing a blue floral cape and yellow tights with white feathers on the butt, you just have to curl up and die somewhere in a dark alley.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary D. Schmidt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-you-re-in-seventh-grade-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cried"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-you-re-in-seventh-grade-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a9/gary-d-schmidt-7681_cried_i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-y_2637301.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I almost cried. But I didn't, because if you're in seventh grade and you cry while wearing a blue floral…” — Gary D. Schmidt",
                "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": "Gary D. Schmidt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-d-schmidt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I almost cried. But I didn't,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-you-re-in-seventh-grade-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-d-schmidt/i-almost-cried-but-i-didn-t-because-if-you-re-in-seventh-grade-and/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
