---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling…"
description: "\"“She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the urge that made her hit the gas when she ought to hit the brake.”\" — Holly Black"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png"
---

#  She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the…

![“She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the urge that made her hit the gas when she ought to hit the brake.” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png)

> ““She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the urge that made her hit the gas when she ought to hit the brake.””

[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.

The character craves an unsettling, unfamiliar feeling that compels her to act impulsively, like stepping on the gas when she should brake, highlighting a desire for risk or escape.

**In simple terms:** She seeks a dangerous thrill that overrides caution.

Key Takeaway

Unfamiliar urges can drive reckless choices.

Themes

desire risk impulse inner conflict

Mood

intense restless

Type

literary description emotional metaphor

When to use this quote

- character development in fiction
- personal moments of sudden risk‑taking
- advertising for adrenaline sports

Key Concepts

psychology of thrill‑seeking narrative tension

Practical Applications

- use vivid metaphor to convey internal tension
- contrast desire with restraint

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the ‘unfamiliar feeling’ symbolize for the character?
- How does the metaphor of gas vs. brake illustrate internal conflict?

A Different Perspective

Glorifying reckless urges may normalize harmful behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ache Urge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ache-urge-1346272/) [Feeling Ache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-ache-1346273/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Hit Brake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hit-brake-1346269/) [Unfamiliar Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfamiliar-feeling-1346270/) [Urge Hit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urge-hit-1346271/)

## Related quotes

> [I always wanted to race but I never thought it would be possible. My dad put me in a cadet kart when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-hamilton/i-always-wanted-to-race-but-i-never-thought-it-would-be-possible-my/)

[Nicolas Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-hamilton/)

> [You're pulling 4-5G for a lot of the corners around the lap. We build up lactic acid because there are a lot of vibrations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/you-re-pulling-4-5g-for-a-lot-of-the-corners-around-the-lap-we-build/)

[Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/)

> [“I laugh as an unfamiliar feeling envelops me. I think it might be happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-stokes/i-laugh-as-an-unfamiliar-feeling-envelops-me-i-think-it-might-be/)

[Paula Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-stokes/)

> [“I had an overwhelming urge to hit him-or kiss him. I wasn't sure which. With lips like those, a girl would have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jus-accardo/i-had-an-overwhelming-urge-to-hit-him-or-kiss-him-i-wasn-t-sure-which/)

[Jus Accardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jus-accardo/)

> [“Within an hour, I had gone from anguish at the thought of losing him in Scotland, to a strong desire to bed him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/within-an-hour-i-had-gone-from-anguish-at-the-thought-of-losing-him/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [You should hit the brake on your heart so you won't end up in heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-should-hit-the-brake-on-your-heart-so-you-won-t-end-up-in/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [“He really is alone in whatever hell this is. Completely and utterly alone. 'It isn't,' he thinks, as he trudges back toward his house,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/he-really-is-alone-in-whatever-hell-this-is-completely-and-utterly/)

[Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/)

> [“That topsy-turvy, warm feeling of arousal was attraction. An unfamiliar feeling that had never occurred before was happening with her enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-harber/that-topsy-turvy-warm-feeling-of-arousal-was-attraction-an-unfamiliar/)

[Cristin Harber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-harber/)

> [I get the strange urge to hit my head against the wall. Other people's sobs make me feel uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-get-the-strange-urge-to-hit-my-head-against-the-wall-other-people-s/)

[Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/)

> [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/)

[Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/)

> [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/)

[Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/)

[Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/)

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## 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 Heart quotes

> [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“He held her like a new woman and what she felt felt almost as good as love had, and each of them called it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/he-held-her-like-a-new-woman-and-what-she-felt-felt-almost-as-good-as/)

[Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/)

[Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/)

> [I love because there is not enough room in my heart to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rena-kornreich-gelissen/i-love-because-there-is-not-enough-room-in-my-heart-to-hate/)

[Rena Kornreich Gelissen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rena-kornreich-gelissen/)

> [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/)

[Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/)

[Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/)

> [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/)

[Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/)

> [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/)

[Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/)

[Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/)

[Browse all 45,172 Heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the urge that made her hit the gas when she ought to hit the brake.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Holly Black"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling-that-ache-the-urge-that-made/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Heart"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling-that-ache-the-urge-that-made/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd4/holly-black-329_heart_she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling_113940.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“She wished it was an unfamiliar feeling, that ache, the urge that made her hit the gas when she ought to hit…” — 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": "“She wished it was an unfamiliar...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling-that-ache-the-urge-that-made/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-wished-it-was-an-unfamiliar-feeling-that-ache-the-urge-that-made/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
