--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm afraid that whatever I touch is…" description: "\"I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the contact.\" \"I'm not scared of being spoiled,\" Val said.\" — Holly Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png" --- # I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the… ![“I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the contact." "I'm not scared of being spoiled," Val said.” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png) > “I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the contact." "I'm not scared of being spoiled," Val said.” [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Touching things seems to ruin them, yet the speaker isn’t afraid of being ruined themselves. **In simple terms:** Contact can spoil, but fear isn’t present. Key Takeaway Recognize that influence can be both harmful and harmless. Themes vulnerability influence fear Mood introspective poetic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - creative collaboration - environmental impact Key Concepts psychology relationships magic realism Questions to Reflect On - How does your presence affect what you touch? - When is it okay to let go of control? A Different Perspective May confuse metaphor with literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-touch-703367/) [Being spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-spoiled/) [Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact/) [Contact Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contact-scared-5987664/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Scared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared/) [Scared Spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scared-spoiled-5987661/) [Spoiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoiled/) [Spoilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoilt/) [Spoilt Contact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spoilt-contact-5987662/) [Touch Spoilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-spoilt-5987663/) ## Related quotes > [“...even though she felt a wave of dread. If they knew she was nervous, she'd be at their mercy. But if they thought she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/even-though-she-felt-a-wave-of-dread-if-they-knew-she-was-nervous-she/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Embrace your fear. Imagine what you're most afraid of, touch it and hold it so that you rob it of its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-ressa/embrace-your-fear-imagine-what-you-re-most-afraid-of-touch-it-and/) [Maria Ressa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-ressa/) > [“Are you afraid to touch me, darlin’? Are you afraid you’ll burn? You’ll have to get in line, darlin’ You’ll have to wait your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/are-you-afraid-to-touch-me-darlin-are-you-afraid-you-ll-burn-you-ll/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [“The revolver was black and nearly new. I was afraid to even touch it, for in it lay all the whole difference between what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-revolver-was-black-and-nearly-new-i-was-afraid-to-even-touch-it/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“it's as if I'm afraid to spoil the charm of what has only just passed by a serious book or some serious occupation. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-s-as-if-i-m-afraid-to-spoil-the-charm-of-what-has-only-just-passed/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I think my vision's blurred," he murmurred. SHe responded with a hesitant laugh. "If that's all that happened, you're a heck of a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-think-my-vision-s-blurred-he-murmurred-she-responded-with-a/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Don't be afraid to touch them if you want to. If they 're going out with you in the first place, it 's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/don-t-be-afraid-to-touch-them-if-you-want-to-if-they-re-going-out/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [The idea of my kids being spoiled, I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about. I'm trying to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/the-idea-of-my-kids-being-spoiled-i-go-to-sleep-thinking-about-it-i/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [But then I had long mistaken being spoiled for being strong, being defiant for being independent, being reckless for being brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/but-then-i-had-long-mistaken-being-spoiled-for-being-strong-being/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [I don't like spoilers. I don't like things being spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mcbride/i-don-t-like-spoilers-i-don-t-like-things-being-spoiled/) [Melissa McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mcbride/) > [It turns out that the 'Cry It Out' method of baby sleep training, where you ignore that your kid is screaming, crying and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denene-millner/it-turns-out-that-the-cry-it-out-method-of-baby-sleep-training-where/) [Denene Millner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denene-millner/) > [The smallest amount of vanity is fatal in aeroplane fighting. Selfdistrust rather is the quality to which many a pilot owes his protracted existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-smallest-amount-of-vanity-is-fatal-in-aeroplane-fighting/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bray/never-fear-spoiling-children-by-making-them-too-happy-happiness-is/) [Thomas Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bray/) > [I realize I am very privileged. But there's a difference between being spoiled and privileged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-stunt/i-realize-i-am-very-privileged-but-there-s-a-difference-between-being/) [Petra Stunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-stunt/) > [I go to sleep thinking about my kids being spoiled and I wake up thinking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-go-to-sleep-thinking-about-my-kids-being-spoiled-and-i-wake-up/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) ## More by Holly Black > [“What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/what-they-don-t-realize-is-this-yes-they-frighten-me-but-i-have/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [That’s family for you. Can’t live with them, can’t murder them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-s-family-for-you-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-murder-them/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No, I won't help you. No I won't hear you explain why I should. It really is a magical word: no. You say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-i-won-t-help-you-no-i-won-t-hear-you-explain-why-i-should-it/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Let her alone,' said the enkanto, 'or I will curse you blind, lame, and worse.' The old man laughed. 'I'm a curse breaker, fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/let-her-alone-said-the-enkanto-or-i-will-curse-you-blind-lame-and/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“lt's an honor and a delight to meet you and a tragedy you're here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/lt-s-an-honor-and-a-delight-to-meet-you-and-a-tragedy-you-re-here/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No fire at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-fire-at-all/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“His wax-white skin was cool to the touch when she brushed his neck to find the knot of cloth. She'd never been this close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/his-wax-white-skin-was-cool-to-the-touch-when-she-brushed-his-neck-to/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [So what are you really wearing?" The words left her mouth before she could consider them. She winced. He didn't seem to mind; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/so-what-are-you-really-wearing-the-words-left-her-mouth-before-she/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I grab a chair. "I don't mean to pry," I say, "but we're in a hospital. You sure you're fine?" She sighs heavily. "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-grab-a-chair-i-don-t-mean-to-pry-i-say-but-we-re-in-a-hospital-you/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Kaye: You know what the sun looks like? Janet: No, What? Kaye: Like he slit his wrists in a bathtub and the blood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kaye-you-know-what-the-sun-looks-like-janet-no-what-kaye-like-he-slit/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“That was how she felt, right then. As if there was too much of her, as if her skin was tight with muchness. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-was-how-she-felt-right-then-as-if-there-was-too-much-of-her-as/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It was a vow, a piece of a chant, their scripture, something they took so seriously that saying it aloud embarrassed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-was-a-vow-a-piece-of-a-chant-their-scripture-something-they-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Some broken things stay broken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/some-broken-things-stay-broken/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Explore all 666 Holly Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More Being spoiled quotes > [I don't like spoilers. I don't like things being spoiled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-mcbride/i-don-t-like-spoilers-i-don-t-like-things-being-spoiled/) [Melissa McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-mcbride/) > [I realize I am very privileged. But there's a difference between being spoiled and privileged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-stunt/i-realize-i-am-very-privileged-but-there-s-a-difference-between-being/) [Petra Stunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-stunt/) > [Never fear spoiling children by making them too happy. Happiness is the atmosphere in which all good affections grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bray/never-fear-spoiling-children-by-making-them-too-happy-happiness-is/) [Thomas Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bray/) > [The smallest amount of vanity is fatal in aeroplane fighting. Selfdistrust rather is the quality to which many a pilot owes his protracted existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/the-smallest-amount-of-vanity-is-fatal-in-aeroplane-fighting/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [It turns out that the 'Cry It Out' method of baby sleep training, where you ignore that your kid is screaming, crying and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denene-millner/it-turns-out-that-the-cry-it-out-method-of-baby-sleep-training-where/) [Denene Millner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denene-millner/) > [But then I had long mistaken being spoiled for being strong, being defiant for being independent, being reckless for being brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/but-then-i-had-long-mistaken-being-spoiled-for-being-strong-being/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [The idea of my kids being spoiled, I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about. I'm trying to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/the-idea-of-my-kids-being-spoiled-i-go-to-sleep-thinking-about-it-i/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I go to sleep thinking about my kids being spoiled and I wake up thinking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-go-to-sleep-thinking-about-my-kids-being-spoiled-and-i-wake-up/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [And I have yet to find one single individual who has attained conspicuous success in bringing down enemy aeroplanes who can be said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/and-i-have-yet-to-find-one-single-individual-who-has-attained/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [The public is being spoiled by good technical quality photographs in magazines, on television, in the movies, and they have become bored. The disease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-brodovitch/the-public-is-being-spoiled-by-good-technical-quality-photographs-in/) [Alexey Brodovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexey-brodovitch/) [Browse all 11 Being spoiled quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-spoiled/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the contact.\" \"I'm not scared of being spoiled,\" Val said.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Holly Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoilt-by-the-contact-i-m-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being spoiled" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoilt-by-the-contact-i-m-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/holly-black-329_being-spoiled_i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoi_2396511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm afraid that whatever I touch is spoilt by the contact.\" \"I'm not scared of being spoiled,\" Val said.” — Holly Black", "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": "Holly Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm afraid that whatever I touch...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoilt-by-the-contact-i-m-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-m-afraid-that-whatever-i-touch-is-spoilt-by-the-contact-i-m-not/#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 } } ] } ```