--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for…" description: "\"Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for anything more than a second--sometimes there can be perfect understanding between two people who can't stand ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/gary-d-schmidt-7681_lasts_sometimes-and-i-know-it-doesn-t-last-for_2947359.jpg" --- # Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for anything more… ![“Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for anything more than a second--sometimes there can be perfect understanding between two people who can't stand each other. He smiled, and I smiled, and we put the Timex watches on, and we watched the seconds flit by.” quote by Gary D. Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/gary-d-schmidt-7681_lasts_sometimes-and-i-know-it-doesn-t-last-for_2947359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/gary-d-schmidt-7681_lasts_sometimes-and-i-know-it-doesn-t-last-for_2947359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/gary-d-schmidt-7681_lasts_sometimes-and-i-know-it-doesn-t-last-for_2947359.jpg) > “Sometimes--and I know it doesn't last for anything more than a second--sometimes there can be perfect understanding between two people who can't stand each other. He smiled, and I smiled, and we put the Timex watches on, and we watched the seconds flit by.” [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. Even adversaries can share fleeting moments of deep connection, transcending conflict. **In simple terms:** Enemies can briefly understand each other. Key Takeaway Seek common ground in strained relationships. Themes connection understanding conflict resolution Mood hopeful introspective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - family disputes - negotiations - creative collaborations Key Concepts psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt unexpected empathy? - How can you foster lasting understanding? A Different Perspective Such moments may be rare and temporary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) [Smiled Timex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-timex-4424340/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stand Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-smiled-4424341/) [Timex Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timex-watches-4424342/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Watched Seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watched-seconds-1611729/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm going to remember you forever Lily, and how life seemed to stand still whenever you smiled at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-sevilla/i-m-going-to-remember-you-forever-lily-and-how-life-seemed-to-stand/) [J.M. Sevilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-sevilla/) > [I..." He struggled to answer. "When everything was quiet, I went up to the corridor and the curtain in the livingroom was open just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-he-struggled-to-answer-when-everything-was-quiet-i-went-up-to-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Have you ever done this before?" "Done what?" "Attacked two armed men with sticks?" "No, but I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lenahan/have-you-ever-done-this-before-done-what-attacked-two-armed-men-with/) [John Lenahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lenahan/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“He smiled sadly. "I was lost from the moment I saw you on Ovchinin Island. It took a long while for me to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-skye/he-smiled-sadly-i-was-lost-from-the-moment-i-saw-you-on-ovchinin/) [Evelyn Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-skye/) > [“Kurt smiled a shy smile. "You're just trying to cheer me up," he said. "Course I am," Andy said. "You deserve to be full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/kurt-smiled-a-shy-smile-you-re-just-trying-to-cheer-me-up-he-said/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“Then, with one of his quick changes of mood, he smiled. “Yes, there’s one thing I do want. I want to be aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-with-one-of-his-quick-changes-of-mood-he-smiled-yes-there-s-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That man had blond hair, all right, and he smiled and showed all his teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/that-man-had-blond-hair-all-right-and-he-smiled-and-showed-all-his/) [Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/) > [“Miss Craven held up a pair she thought would fit me—monstrous great things they were, of course, and I thought she smiled as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/miss-craven-held-up-a-pair-she-thought-would-fit-me-monstrous-great/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They didn't understand, it not being directed at them, what that smile could do. The power of it. It was like every time he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/they-didn-t-understand-it-not-being-directed-at-them-what-that-smile/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) ## 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. 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"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. 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I couldn't figure out how that could last. And then I met Bryn and I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-was-always-anti-marriage-i-didn-t-understand-monogamy-i-couldn-t/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. 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