--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While he was doing it, I went over to my…" description: "\"“While he was doing it, I went over to my window and opened it and packed a snowball with my bare hands. The snow was very good for packing. I didn’t t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/j-d-salinger-560_bus-driver_while-he-was-doing-it-i-went-over-to-my_1554688.png" --- # While he was doing it, I went over to my window and opened… ![“While he was doing it, I went over to my window and opened it and packed a snowball with my bare hands. The snow was very good for packing. I didn’t throw it at anything, though. I started to throw it. At a car that was parked across the street. But I changed my mind. The car looked so nice and…” quote by J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/j-d-salinger-560_bus-driver_while-he-was-doing-it-i-went-over-to-my_1554688.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/j-d-salinger-560_bus-driver_while-he-was-doing-it-i-went-over-to-my_1554688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c7/j-d-salinger-560_bus-driver_while-he-was-doing-it-i-went-over-to-my_1554688.png) > ““While he was doing it, I went over to my window and opened it and packed a snowball with my bare hands. The snow was very good for packing. I didn’t throw it at anything, though. I started to throw it. At a car that was parked across the street. But I changed my mind. The car looked so nice and white. Then I started to throw it at a hydrant, but that looked too nice and white, too. Finally I didn’t throw it at anything. All I did was close the window and walk around the room with the snowball, packing it harder. A little while later, I still had it with me when I and Brossard and Ackley got on the bus. The bus driver opened the doors and made me throw it out. I wasn’t going to chuck it at anybody, but he wouldn’t believe me. People never believe you.”” [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person builds a snowball, hesitates to throw it, and faces disbelief when forced to discard it, highlighting themes of innocence, authority, and the absurdity of forced actions. **In simple terms:** Making a snowball, then being forced to throw it away, shows how authority can clash with personal intent. Key Takeaway Question authority when it feels arbitrary. Themes innocence authority absurdity childhood rebellion Mood confused amused skeptical Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - playful childhood moments - public transport - conflict with authority Key Concepts agency social pressure Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt forced to act against your will? - Why do people doubt unusual personal experiences? A Different Perspective The narrator’s claim may be fabricated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bus driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bus-driver/) ## Related quotes > [“I went over to my window and opened it and packed a snowball with my bare hands. The snow was very good for packing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-went-over-to-my-window-and-opened-it-and-packed-a-snowball-with-my/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [“Lily Thomas lay in bed when the alarm went off on a snowy January morning in Squaw Valley. 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But I changed my mind. The car looked so nice and white. Then I started to throw it at a hydrant, but that looked too nice and white, too. Finally I didn’t throw it at anything. All I did was close the window and walk around the room with the snowball, packing it harder. A little while later, I still had it with me when I and Brossard and Ackley got on the bus. The bus driver opened the doors and made me throw it out. I wasn’t going to chuck it at anybody, but he wouldn’t believe me. People never believe you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.D. 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