--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sasha's green eyes were right up against…" description: "\"“Sasha's green eyes were right up against yours, the lashes interlocking. \"In Naples,\" she said, \"there were kids who were just lost. You knew they wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jennifer-egan-825_coping_sasha-s-green-eyes-were-right-up-against_2322533.jpg" --- # Sasha's green eyes were right up against yours, the lashes… ![“Sasha's green eyes were right up against yours, the lashes interlocking. "In Naples," she said, "there were kids who were just lost. You knew they were never going to get back to what they'd been, or have a normal life. And then there were other ones who you thought, maybe they will." ... You…” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jennifer-egan-825_coping_sasha-s-green-eyes-were-right-up-against_2322533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jennifer-egan-825_coping_sasha-s-green-eyes-were-right-up-against_2322533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/jennifer-egan-825_coping_sasha-s-green-eyes-were-right-up-against_2322533.jpg) > ““Sasha's green eyes were right up against yours, the lashes interlocking. "In Naples," she said, "there were kids who were just lost. You knew they were never going to get back to what they'd been, or have a normal life. And then there were other ones who you thought, maybe they will." ... You opened your eyes, which you hadn't realized were shut again. "what I'm saying is, We're the survivors," Sasha said. ... "Not everyone is. But we are. Okay?”” [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Survivors recognize their shared resilience while acknowledging others may not survive. **In simple terms:** Survivors share strength, others may not. Key Takeaway Recognize your resilience and support others. Themes survivorship hope empathy Mood reflective hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - post‑war recovery - community healing - mental health support Key Concepts resilience shared experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you support those who feel hopeless? - What does being a survivor mean to you? A Different Perspective Not all can survive despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coping/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Normal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-life/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Survivors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivors/) ## Related quotes > [“In Naples, there were kids who were just lost. You knew they were never going to get back to what they'd been, or have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/in-naples-there-were-kids-who-were-just-lost-you-knew-they-were-never/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I'm always happy," Sasha said. "Sometimes I just forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-m-always-happy-sasha-said-sometimes-i-just-forget/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“We're the survivors. Not everyone is. But we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/we-re-the-survivors-not-everyone-is-but-we-are/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Then, when he said her name, she opened her eyes. One hand went out to his sleeve. “Can we go now?” she whispered. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/then-when-he-said-her-name-she-opened-her-eyes-one-hand-went-out-to/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Toulouse opened my eyes as a player and as a person. I returned to Wales 10 times better for the experience. I admit that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-thomas/toulouse-opened-my-eyes-as-a-player-and-as-a-person-i-returned-to/) [Gareth Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-thomas/) > [Robert Whittaker has really opened eyes, look what he's doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/robert-whittaker-has-really-opened-eyes-look-what-he-s-doing/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [Being diagnosed with cancer really opened my eyes to the fact anyone can have it and that even though we think we have control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/being-diagnosed-with-cancer-really-opened-my-eyes-to-the-fact-anyone/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [“At some point, the devoted pass from belief into certainty. I did not believe in Islam; I opened my eyes every morning and saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-willow-wilson/at-some-point-the-devoted-pass-from-belief-into-certainty-i-did-not/) [G. Willow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-willow-wilson/) > [“each time he opened his eyes, beams of feverish, demonic pain shot through his brain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/each-time-he-opened-his-eyes-beams-of-feverish-demonic-pain-shot/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe in love at first sight because when I opened my eyes I saw my mother first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanchi-vikas/i-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-when-i-opened-my-eyes-i-saw/) Sanchi Vikas > [“They say an infant can't see when it is as young as your sister was, but she opened her eyes, and she looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/they-say-an-infant-can-t-see-when-it-is-as-young-as-your-sister-was/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I believe in love at first sight because I've been loving my mother since I just opened my eyes...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-i-ve-been-loving-my-mother/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor has opened my eyes in many ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/samuel-coleridge-taylor-has-opened-my-eyes-in-many-ways/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [“Mitch opened his eyes, closed them, and then opened them wide. “There are big breasts in my face,” he announced to anyone who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/mitch-opened-his-eyes-closed-them-and-then-opened-them-wide-there-are/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [Science . . . has opened our eyes to the vastness of the universe and given us light, truth and freedom from fear where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/science-has-opened-our-eyes-to-the-vastness-of-the-universe-and-given/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) ## More by Jennifer Egan > [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It was the hat. He looked sweet in the hat. How could a man in a fuzzy blue hat have used human bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-was-the-hat-he-looked-sweet-in-the-hat-how-could-a-man-in-a-fuzzy/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“The seconds pass. I know what’s going on because it’s the same thing that always happens: give me something nice, something I love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/the-seconds-pass-i-know-what-s-going-on-because-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I had this idea that I could hire myself out as a person to go on archeological digs and dig, without any training! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-had-this-idea-that-i-could-hire-myself-out-as-a-person-to-go-on/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [At night, the house thick with sleep, she would peer out her bedroom window at the trees and sky and feel the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/at-night-the-house-thick-with-sleep-she-would-peer-out-her-bedroom/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Read at the level at which you want to write. Reading is the nourishment that feeds the kind of writing you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/read-at-the-level-at-which-you-want-to-write-reading-is-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about-2/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) [Explore all 358 Jennifer Egan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## More Coping quotes > [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/) [Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/) > [I think for the rest of the day I'll turn to my comfort/coping mechanisms...red wine and online shopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-for-the-rest-of-the-day-i-ll-turn-to-my-comfort-coping/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The body is thus not simply an 'entity', but is experienced as a practical mode of coping with external situations and events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-giddens/the-body-is-thus-not-simply-an-entity-but-is-experienced-as-a/) [Anthony Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-giddens/) > ['Johnny' was a coping mechanism who could take those things which could have ordinarily destroyed me, by tweaking my past and throwing it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/johnny-was-a-coping-mechanism-who-could-take-those-things-which-could/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [In terms of humor, it's a really powerful coping mechanism, and it gets you through really dark days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-victor/in-terms-of-humor-it-s-a-really-powerful-coping-mechanism-and-it-gets/) [Eva Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-victor/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Punishment by definition isn't going to help. So what you need to do is to help people to change and recover is to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-szalavitz/punishment-by-definition-isn-t-going-to-help-so-what-you-need-to-do/) [Maia Szalavitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-szalavitz/) > [Remaining calm in adversity is a sign of great spiritual strength. No matter what's going on in your life right now, Hold your peace!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/remaining-calm-in-adversity-is-a-sign-of-great-spiritual-strength-no/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [If something is bothering you right now, try not to make any decision in hurry instead take some time to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-something-is-bothering-you-right-now-try-not-to-make-any-decision/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [No one would feel embarrassed about seeking help for a child if they broke their arm and we really should be equally ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-middleton/no-one-would-feel-embarrassed-about-seeking-help-for-a-child-if-they/) [Kate Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-middleton/) > [“When I can’t fight, I need you to fight harder. When I can’t be strong anymore, I need you to be stronger." - Neela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seril/when-i-can-t-fight-i-need-you-to-fight-harder-when-i-can-t-be-strong/) Steven Seril > [“For every evil under the sun, There is a remedy, or there is none. If there be one, try and find it; If there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-goose-rhymes/for-every-evil-under-the-sun-there-is-a-remedy-or-there-is-none-if/) Mother Goose Rhymes > [This is my life now. Absurd, but unpredictable. Not absurd because unpredictable but unpredictable because absurd. If I have lost the meaning of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/this-is-my-life-now-absurd-but-unpredictable-not-absurd-because/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Some say time heals the broken, but I say it gives answers for the unanswered questions and thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-say-time-heals-the-broken-but-i-say-it-gives-answers-for-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To get through the night, I sometimes imagined the sky filled with a canopy of stars. I imagined that each star contained the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-bialosky/to-get-through-the-night-i-sometimes-imagined-the-sky-filled-with-a/) [Jill Bialosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-bialosky/) [Browse all 462 Coping quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coping/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sasha's green eyes were right up against yours, the lashes interlocking. \"In Naples,\" she said, \"there were kids who were just lost. You knew they were never going to get back to what they'd been, or have a normal life. And then there were other ones who you thought, maybe they will.\" ... You opened your eyes, which you hadn't realized were shut again. \"what I'm saying is, We're the survivors,\" Sasha said. ... \"Not everyone is. But we are. 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