--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not…" description: "\"“Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not convinced the rewards repaid the effort. He took breath in, but after that let it fend for itself.”\" — Iain Si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/iain-sinclair-15185_took-breath_mossy-had-trouble-breathing-he-was-not-c_2235253.png" --- # Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not convinced the… ![“Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not convinced the rewards repaid the effort. He took breath in, but after that let it fend for itself.” quote by Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/iain-sinclair-15185_took-breath_mossy-had-trouble-breathing-he-was-not-c_2235253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/iain-sinclair-15185_took-breath_mossy-had-trouble-breathing-he-was-not-c_2235253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/982/iain-sinclair-15185_took-breath_mossy-had-trouble-breathing-he-was-not-c_2235253.png) > ““Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not convinced the rewards repaid the effort. He took breath in, but after that let it fend for itself.”” [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) ## 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 struggles with effort versus reward, feeling breathless and abandoned after trying. **In simple terms:** Effort feels unrewarded. Key Takeaway Reevaluate effort versus payoff. Themes perseverance disillusionment existential angst Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal projects - career decisions - health goals Key Concepts reward systems motivation self‑care Questions to Reflect On - What effort feels futile now? - How can you balance effort and rest? A Different Perspective Not all effort leads to reward; sometimes rest is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath-let-474652/) [Effort Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort-took-1045900/) [Mossy Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mossy-trouble-5044188/) [Took Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-breath/) [Trouble Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-breathing-3547432/) ## Related quotes > [“I took a breath and let it go and suddenly the air was crisper and my lungs lighter and suddenly there was him saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/i-took-a-breath-and-let-it-go-and-suddenly-the-air-was-crisper-and-my/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [“We might stay here the rest of our lives with the sky slammed shut, but mauma had found the part of herself that refused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-might-stay-here-the-rest-of-our-lives-with-the-sky-slammed-shut/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Growing up I always knew I had a deviated septum on the right side of my nose, which caused trouble breathing. The older I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/growing-up-i-always-knew-i-had-a-deviated-septum-on-the-right-side-of/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I was having trouble breathing and I saw a doctor and she told me I needed surgery on my nose and I was like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/i-was-having-trouble-breathing-and-i-saw-a-doctor-and-she-told-me-i/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [“My heart beat fast, and I had a little trouble breathing. It felt like lust, but then again it might have been fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-thornton/my-heart-beat-fast-and-i-had-a-little-trouble-breathing-it-felt-like/) [Marshall Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-thornton/) > [“In retrospect, I'm embarrassed by how little effort on his part it took for me to come back or stay. I was so desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/in-retrospect-i-m-embarrassed-by-how-little-effort-on-his-part-it/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [“Maybe,” he says slowly, as if each word is an effort, “she took advantage of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/maybe-he-says-slowly-as-if-each-word-is-an-effort-she-took-advantage/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) > [Most people would never admit it, but they'd been bitching since they were born. As soon as their head popped out into that bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/most-people-would-never-admit-it-but-they-d-been-bitching-since-they/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“The superhuman effort it took sometimes to be normal, and a part of things that appeared both easy and everyday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/the-superhuman-effort-it-took-sometimes-to-be-normal-and-a-part-of/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [People were buying milk, or filling their cars with petrol, or even posting letters. And what no one else knew was the appalling weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/people-were-buying-milk-or-filling-their-cars-with-petrol-or-even/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [For those who enjoy long & happy love life knows how much effort it took to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-those-who-enjoy-long-happy-love-life-knows-how-much-effort-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's embarrassing, how much effort it took for me to wear something that looks exactly like a blank piece of paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-vivian/it-s-embarrassing-how-much-effort-it-took-for-me-to-wear-something/) [Siobhan Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-vivian/) > [Some people can vent their anger, take a breath, and let it go, but I wasn't one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/some-people-can-vent-their-anger-take-a-breath-and-let-it-go-but-i/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [“That's all you've got for me?" I drew a long breath and let it out slowly. "You know. I might be able to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayde-scott/that-s-all-you-ve-got-for-me-i-drew-a-long-breath-and-let-it-out/) [Jayde Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayde-scott/) > [Take a deep breath. Now, let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/take-a-deep-breath-now-let-go/) [Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/) ## More by Iain Sinclair > [“Atkins knows two kinds of birds: seagulls and the ones that aren't seagulls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/atkins-knows-two-kinds-of-birds-seagulls-and-the-ones-that-aren-t/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“The faster we walk, the more ground we lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/the-faster-we-walk-the-more-ground-we-lose/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“Men of the cloth live in this monologue, it is their due: nobody talks back to a pulpit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/men-of-the-cloth-live-in-this-monologue-it-is-their-due-nobody-talks/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“...drunk enough on earth's liquors to relish the prospect of the knife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/drunk-enough-on-earth-s-liquors-to-relish-the-prospect-of-the-knife/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“All kinds of weird stuff going down, whisperings in corners, significant matches struck and blown out. The whores, unoccupied, were drinking heavily. The police,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/all-kinds-of-weird-stuff-going-down-whisperings-in-corners/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“I looked at this first sheet, words scribbled confidently on a lined pad. My attempt at making contact the spirit of Llandor. Disaster. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/i-looked-at-this-first-sheet-words-scribbled-confidently-on-a-lined/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [You can't leave the thing that you are, the house that has become your biography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/you-can-t-leave-the-thing-that-you-are-the-house-that-has-become-your/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [You'd better make it your business to understand the market. The ability to charm or play the game is useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/you-d-better-make-it-your-business-to-understand-the-market-the/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [Culture isn't all just about what can be tweaked and twitched in the simplest possible way. As people move around, they literally don't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/culture-isn-t-all-just-about-what-can-be-tweaked-and-twitched-in-the/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [You can't impose a legacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/you-can-t-impose-a-legacy/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [The world changes, but I want that change to be necessary or respectful of what has happened before. Everything changes, and that's quite right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/the-world-changes-but-i-want-that-change-to-be-necessary-or/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [The only times I'm not relaxed are when I haven't got a project on the go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/the-only-times-i-m-not-relaxed-are-when-i-haven-t-got-a-project-on/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [I am crumbling in sync with old Hackney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/i-am-crumbling-in-sync-with-old-hackney/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [“The suicide hour of cold coffee and alien voices on the radio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/the-suicide-hour-of-cold-coffee-and-alien-voices-on-the-radio/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) > [For the bookish, London is a book. For criminals, a map of opportunities. For unpapered immigrants, it is a nest of skinned eyes; sanctioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-sinclair/for-the-bookish-london-is-a-book-for-criminals-a-map-of-opportunities/) [Iain Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) [Explore all 44 Iain Sinclair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-sinclair/) ## More Took Breath quotes > [My father, I spent a lot of time with him at the hospital. I was with him when he took his last breath, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/my-father-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-him-at-the-hospital-i-was-with/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [I'll always remember, I'll never forget, how you took my breath away, the first time we met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-always-remember-i-ll-never-forget-how-you-took-my-breath-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It seemed like my professional life would take a more scientific route. I guess that plan started to become undone when, at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnon-goldfinger/it-seemed-like-my-professional-life-would-take-a-more-scientific/) [Arnon Goldfinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnon-goldfinger/) > [In the end,its not going to mattrer how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-end-its-not-going-to-mattrer-how-many-breaths-you-took-but-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There was a time,” he finally said, “when I would have acknowledged your reticence and given you time and space to reach your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/there-was-a-time-he-finally-said-when-i-would-have-acknowledged-your/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [“He forced my lips apart and as he thrust his tongue deep, I vaguely wondered how it would feel between my legs. The power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-loveit/he-forced-my-lips-apart-and-as-he-thrust-his-tongue-deep-i-vaguely/) [Lorraine Loveit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-loveit/) > [I Used To Think You Took My Breath Away Then I Realized I Was Being Suffocated By Your Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-used-to-think-you-took-my-breath-away-then-i-realized-i-was-being/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It was you," I say softly. "It's always you I think about." The intensity in his gaze took my breath away. I could feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-simmons/it-was-you-i-say-softly-it-s-always-you-i-think-about-the-intensity/) [Kristen Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-simmons/) > [“I felt I hadn't breathed since early morning, that my heart had not beat-and only now for the first time I took a breath,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/i-felt-i-hadn-t-breathed-since-early-morning-that-my-heart-had-not/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [“He took a breath. “We may never speak about this again. But I hope you’ll never hold it against me that we did. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-aciman/he-took-a-breath-we-may-never-speak-about-this-again-but-i-hope-you/) [André Aciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-aciman/) > [As for me, I was just trying to get it right, whatever that means. But now I finally felt I was on my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/as-for-me-i-was-just-trying-to-get-it-right-whatever-that-means-but/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“He took a breath. “I think there’s a reason I’m shitty in bed.” I felt myself frowning, unhappy with him running himself down. “Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-calmes/he-took-a-breath-i-think-there-s-a-reason-i-m-shitty-in-bed-i-felt/) [Mary Calmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-calmes/) > [“Your beauty took my breath away, but your mind has stopped my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-rusilko/your-beauty-took-my-breath-away-but-your-mind-has-stopped-my-heart/) [Ivan Rusilko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-rusilko/) > [“She was the one. If I’d ever had a doubt, I didn’t now. She was the one I’d be thinking about, longing for, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/she-was-the-one-if-i-d-ever-had-a-doubt-i-didn-t-now-she-was-the-one/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) > [“She took him by the arm and pulled him down and put her lips on his. When she inhaled, she took in the breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/she-took-him-by-the-arm-and-pulled-him-down-and-put-her-lips-on-his/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) [Browse all 93 Took Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mossy had trouble breathing. He was not convinced the rewards repaid the effort. 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