--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were just buying time in scrapes and…" description: "\"“They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters.”\" — Holly Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png" --- # They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters. ![“They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters.” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png) > ““They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters.”” [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. Characters use distractions to survive difficult moments, buying time to plan or recover. **In simple terms:** They create diversions during tough times. Key Takeaway Use strategic pauses to regroup. Themes survival strategy time management resilience distraction Mood thoughtful cautious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - crisis - conflict - high pressure decisions Key Concepts tactics psychological coping resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What distractions help you cope? - When might distraction be harmful? A Different Perspective Overreliance on distraction can prevent confronting core issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The Lord of Rags and Tatters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/the-lord-of-rags-and-tatters/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [“With his night-cap and his night-shirt tatters, He botches up the loop-holes in the structure of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/with-his-night-cap-and-his-night-shirt-tatters-he-botches-up-the-loop/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [When I read the script for 'War Horse,' I was in absolute tatters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-fern/when-i-read-the-script-for-war-horse-i-was-in-absolute-tatters/) [Cody Fern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-fern/) > [“That type of dream just kind of wears out with time like a favorite old T-shirt. One day, it's nothing but tatters and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/that-type-of-dream-just-kind-of-wears-out-with-time-like-a-favorite/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [“maybe there is no sublime; only the shining of the amnion's tatters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galway-kinnell/maybe-there-is-no-sublime-only-the-shining-of-the-amnion-s-tatters/) [Galway Kinnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galway-kinnell/) > [Left there in tatters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-black-keys/left-there-in-tatters/) [The Black Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-black-keys/) > [ “We love to buy books because we believe we're buying the time to read them. \[ Inside Out (VH1)\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/we-love-to-buy-books-because-we-believe-we-re-buying-the-time-to-read/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I don't know how I got out of some of the scrapes I was in. But I know that there's some sort of plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-don-t-know-how-i-got-out-of-some-of-the-scrapes-i-was-in-but-i-know/) [Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/) > [Only those who get into scrapes with their eyes open can find the safe way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/only-those-who-get-into-scrapes-with-their-eyes-open-can-find-the/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [I love scrapes. They are the only things that are never serious." "Oh, that's nonsense, Algy. You never talk anything but nonsense." "Nobody ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-love-scrapes-they-are-the-only-things-that-are-never-serious-oh/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“When it comes to scrapes, I'm what you might call a talented amateur. But I've gotten a good look at that women in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/when-it-comes-to-scrapes-i-m-what-you-might-call-a-talented-amateur/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“The blight of our humanity rests in the fact that we have pushed aside the treasures of God in pursuit of the scrapes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-blight-of-our-humanity-rests-in-the-fact-that-we-have-pushed/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I love you so hard it scrapes at my bones...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-lynn-mcclure/i-love-you-so-hard-it-scrapes-at-my-bones/) [Marcia Lynn McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-lynn-mcclure/) > [“I’ll be hanged if I can understand how it concerns Evolution to get us out of a mere scrape.” “Out of all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-ll-be-hanged-if-i-can-understand-how-it-concerns-evolution-to-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [People who do not get into scrapes are a great deal less interesting than those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/people-who-do-not-get-into-scrapes-are-a-great-deal-less-interesting/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) ## 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 Scrapes quotes > [“I’ll be hanged if I can understand how it concerns Evolution to get us out of a mere scrape.” “Out of all kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-davidson/i-ll-be-hanged-if-i-can-understand-how-it-concerns-evolution-to-get/) [John Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-davidson/) > [“I love you so hard it scrapes at my bones...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-lynn-mcclure/i-love-you-so-hard-it-scrapes-at-my-bones/) [Marcia Lynn McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-lynn-mcclure/) > [“The blight of our humanity rests in the fact that we have pushed aside the treasures of God in pursuit of the scrapes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-blight-of-our-humanity-rests-in-the-fact-that-we-have-pushed/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“When it comes to scrapes, I'm what you might call a talented amateur. But I've gotten a good look at that women in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/when-it-comes-to-scrapes-i-m-what-you-might-call-a-talented-amateur/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I love scrapes. They are the only things that are never serious." "Oh, that's nonsense, Algy. You never talk anything but nonsense." "Nobody ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-love-scrapes-they-are-the-only-things-that-are-never-serious-oh/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Only those who get into scrapes with their eyes open can find the safe way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/only-those-who-get-into-scrapes-with-their-eyes-open-can-find-the/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [I don't know how I got out of some of the scrapes I was in. But I know that there's some sort of plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-don-t-know-how-i-got-out-of-some-of-the-scrapes-i-was-in-but-i-know/) [Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/) > [People who do not get into scrapes are a great deal less interesting than those who do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/people-who-do-not-get-into-scrapes-are-a-great-deal-less-interesting/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) Browse all 9 Scrapes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Holly Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-and-tatters/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Scrapes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-and-tatters/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eba/holly-black-329_scrapes_they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-an_828854.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They were just buying time in scrapes and tatters.” — 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": "“They were just buying time in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-and-tatters/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/they-were-just-buying-time-in-scrapes-and-tatters/#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 } } ] } ```