--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Slowly the shapes around her took on…" description: "\"“Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/george-r-r-martin-48_arya-stark_slowly-the-shapes-around-her-took-on-for_2443590.png" --- # Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes… ![“Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teeth. She had lost the count. She closed her eyes and bit her lip and sent the fear away. When she looked again, the monsters would be gone. Would…” quote by George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/george-r-r-martin-48_arya-stark_slowly-the-shapes-around-her-took-on-for_2443590.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/george-r-r-martin-48_arya-stark_slowly-the-shapes-around-her-took-on-for_2443590.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8a/george-r-r-martin-48_arya-stark_slowly-the-shapes-around-her-took-on-for_2443590.png) > ““Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teeth. She had lost the count. She closed her eyes and bit her lip and sent the fear away. When she looked again, the monsters would be gone. Would never have been. She pretended that Syrio was beside her in the dark, whispering in her ear. Calm as still water, she told herself. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. She opened her eyes again. The monsters were still there, but the fear was gone.”” [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing imagined threats, she uses mental imagery of strength to dissolve fear, showing that perception can change reality. **In simple terms:** Imagining strength removes fear. Key Takeaway Use mental affirmations to calm anxiety. Themes courage mindset imagery fear resilience Mood determined calm empowered Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - nighttime anxiety - combat stress - performance pressure - personal crisis Key Concepts psychology self‑talk visualization Questions to Reflect On - How can you create empowering mental images in stressful moments? - What limits does imagination have against genuine threats? A Different Perspective If the fear is rooted in real danger, imagination alone may not suffice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arya stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arya-stark/) [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) ## Related quotes > [Unable to attribute misfortune to chance, unable to accept their ultimate insignificance within the greater scheme, the people looked for monsters in their midst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-beckett/unable-to-attribute-misfortune-to-chance-unable-to-accept-their/) [Bernard Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-beckett/) > [“I wish I was home", She said miserably. She tried so hard to be brave, to be fierce as a wolverine and all, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-wish-i-was-home-she-said-miserably-she-tried-so-hard-to-be-brave-to/) [George R.R. 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Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“...But they were all dead now, even Arya, everyone but her half-brother, Jon. Some nights she heard talk of him, in the taverns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/but-they-were-all-dead-now-even-arya-everyone-but-her-half-brother/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It's just a stupid sword," she said, aloud this time... ... but it wasn't. Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-s-just-a-stupid-sword-she-said-aloud-this-time-but-it-wasn-t/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“She walked fast, to keep ahead of her fear, and it felt as though Syrio Forel walked beside her, and Yoren, and Jaqen H'ghar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/she-walked-fast-to-keep-ahead-of-her-fear-and-it-felt-as-though-syrio/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“We had to throw rocks," she said miserably. "I told her to run, to go be free, that I didn't want her anymore. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/we-had-to-throw-rocks-she-said-miserably-i-told-her-to-run-to-go-be/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“What were you doing to that cat, boy?” Myrcella asked again, sternly. To her brother she said, “He’s a ragged boy, isn’t he? Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/what-were-you-doing-to-that-cat-boy-myrcella-asked-again-sternly-to/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Harwin's eyes went from her face to the flayed man on her doublet. "How do you know me?" he said, frowning suspiciously. "The flayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/harwin-s-eyes-went-from-her-face-to-the-flayed-man-on-her-doublet-how/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The Red Keep was full of cats: lazy old cats dozing in the sun, cold-eyed mousers twitching their tails, quick little kittens with claws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-red-keep-was-full-of-cats-lazy-old-cats-dozing-in-the-sun-cold/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Desmond ushered the man inside. He was stooped and ugly, with an unkempt beard and unwashed clothes, yet Father greeted him pleasantly and asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/desmond-ushered-the-man-inside-he-was-stooped-and-ugly-with-an/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“All the color had been leached from Winterfell until only grey and white remained. The Stark colors. Theon did not know whether he ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/all-the-color-had-been-leached-from-winterfell-until-only-grey-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Her clothes were almost dry by the time she reached the gatehouse. The portcullis was down and the gates barred, so she turned aside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/her-clothes-were-almost-dry-by-the-time-she-reached-the-gatehouse-the/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More by George R.R. Martin > [“Neither's the one you get, less you want me to see if your apple's ripe, yet. - Yoren”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/neither-s-the-one-you-get-less-you-want-me-to-see-if-your-apple-s/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It is my look they will flinch from now, my frown that they must fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-my-look-they-will-flinch-from-now-my-frown-that-they-must-fear/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“A good threat is often more telling than a blow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-good-threat-is-often-more-telling-than-a-blow/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“This wine is very choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/this-wine-is-very-choice/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Everything Syrio Forel had ever taught her vanished in a heartbeat. In that instant of sudden terror, the only lesson Arya could remember was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/everything-syrio-forel-had-ever-taught-her-vanished-in-a-heartbeat-in/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Megga couldn’t sing, but she was mad to be kissed. She and Alla played a kissing game sometimes, she confessed, but it wasn’t the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/megga-couldn-t-sing-but-she-was-mad-to-be-kissed-she-and-alla-played/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The rain feels good against my face, Sam. It feels like tears. Let me stay a while longer, I pray you. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-rain-feels-good-against-my-face-sam-it-feels-like-tears-let-me/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Every man who walks the earth casts a shadow on the world. Some are thin and weak, others long and dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/every-man-who-walks-the-earth-casts-a-shadow-on-the-world-some-are/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The shy girl she had known at Riverrun had grown into a woman who was by turns proud, fearful, cruel, dreamy, reckless, timid, stubborn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-shy-girl-she-had-known-at-riverrun-had-grown-into-a-woman-who-was/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“He won the war on the battlefield and lost it in a bedchamber, poor fool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/he-won-the-war-on-the-battlefield-and-lost-it-in-a-bedchamber-poor/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“On the morning after battle the crows had feasted on victors and vanquished alike. How much can a crown be worth when a crow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/on-the-morning-after-battle-the-crows-had-feasted-on-victors-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The little man gave the big one a look. One of his eyes was green, one was black, and both were cool.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-little-man-gave-the-big-one-a-look-one-of-his-eyes-was-green-one/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Jon, could there be honor in a lie, if it were told for a...good purpose? - Samwell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/jon-could-there-be-honor-in-a-lie-if-it-were-told-for-a-good-purpose/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“My mother said my father had a drop of dragon blood.” “Two drops. That, or a cock six feet long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/my-mother-said-my-father-had-a-drop-of-dragon-blood-two-drops-that-or/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) [Explore all 1,761 George R.R. Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More Arya stark quotes > [“I wish I was home", She said miserably. She tried so hard to be brave, to be fierce as a wolverine and all, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-wish-i-was-home-she-said-miserably-she-tried-so-hard-to-be-brave-to/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“An old man sat down beside her. "Well, aren't you a pretty little peach?" His breath smelled near as foul as the dead men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/an-old-man-sat-down-beside-her-well-aren-t-you-a-pretty-little-peach/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“All the color had been leached from Winterfell until only grey and white remained. The Stark colors. Theon did not know whether he ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/all-the-color-had-been-leached-from-winterfell-until-only-grey-and/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Desmond ushered the man inside. He was stooped and ugly, with an unkempt beard and unwashed clothes, yet Father greeted him pleasantly and asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/desmond-ushered-the-man-inside-he-was-stooped-and-ugly-with-an/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“The Red Keep was full of cats: lazy old cats dozing in the sun, cold-eyed mousers twitching their tails, quick little kittens with claws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-red-keep-was-full-of-cats-lazy-old-cats-dozing-in-the-sun-cold/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I'm just obsessed with 'Game of Thrones,' especially Arya Stark. And I love 'Orange is the New Black,' although I just want to inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-m-just-obsessed-with-game-of-thrones-especially-arya-stark-and-i/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [Weese," she would whisper, first of all. "Dunsen, Chiswyck, Polliver, Raff the Sweetling. The Tickler and the Hound. Ser Gregor, Ser Armory, Ser Ilyn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/weese-she-would-whisper-first-of-all-dunsen-chiswyck-polliver-raff/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone can be killed." - Arya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anyone-can-be-killed-arya-stark/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Harwin's eyes went from her face to the flayed man on her doublet. "How do you know me?" he said, frowning suspiciously. "The flayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/harwin-s-eyes-went-from-her-face-to-the-flayed-man-on-her-doublet-how/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Weese," she would whisper, first of all. "Dunsen, Chiswyck, Polliver, Raff the Sweetling. The Tickler and the Hound. Ser Gregor, Ser Armory, Ser Ilyn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/weese-she-would-whisper-first-of-all-dunsen-chiswyck-polliver-raff-2/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“What were you doing to that cat, boy?” Myrcella asked again, sternly. To her brother she said, “He’s a ragged boy, isn’t he? Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/what-were-you-doing-to-that-cat-boy-myrcella-asked-again-sternly-to/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I think the evolution of Arya Stark's character has been incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaba-gupta/i-think-the-evolution-of-arya-stark-s-character-has-been-incredible/) [Masaba Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaba-gupta/) > [“We had to throw rocks," she said miserably. "I told her to run, to go be free, that I didn't want her anymore. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/we-had-to-throw-rocks-she-said-miserably-i-told-her-to-run-to-go-be/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“She walked fast, to keep ahead of her fear, and it felt as though Syrio Forel walked beside her, and Yoren, and Jaqen H'ghar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/she-walked-fast-to-keep-ahead-of-her-fear-and-it-felt-as-though-syrio/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It's just a stupid sword," she said, aloud this time... ... but it wasn't. Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-s-just-a-stupid-sword-she-said-aloud-this-time-but-it-wasn-t/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) [Browse all 32 Arya stark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arya-stark/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Slowly the shapes around her took on form. Huge empty eyes stared at her hungrily through the gloom, and dimly she saw the jagged shadows of long teeth. She had lost the count. She closed her eyes and bit her lip and sent the fear away. When she looked again, the monsters would be gone. Would never have been. She pretended that Syrio was beside her in the dark, whispering in her ear. Calm as still water, she told herself. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. She opened her eyes again. The monsters were still there, but the fear was gone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George R.R. 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