Cardan-greenbriar Quote by Holly Black
““What was it like?" I ask. "Being a serpent." He hesitates. "It was like being trapped in the dark," he says. "I was alone, and my instinct was to lash out. I was perhaps not entirely an animal, but neither was I myself. I could not reason. There was only feelings--hatred and terror and the desire to destroy." I start to speak, but he stops me with a gesture. "And you." He looks at me, his lips curving in something that's not quite a smile; it's more and less than that. "I knew little else, but I always knew you." And when he kisses me, I feel as though I can finally breathe again.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, Holly Black, 2012
The passage explores alienation and primal fear, showing how empathy can bridge monstrous and human selves.
In simple terms: Feeling alone and angry can feel monstrous, but connection offers relief.
Key Takeaway
Seek empathy to overcome isolation.
Themes
alienation
fear
empathy
Mood
haunting
introspective
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- conflict resolution
- mental health
Key Concepts
psychology
identity
otherness
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you recognize the humanity in those you fear?
- What does connection look like for you?
A Different Perspective
Empathy may be hard to achieve with deep trauma.
