--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was breathing, which is always a good…" description: "\"He was breathing, which is always a good sign. As gently as I could I picked him up, placed him on the towel, wrapped it around him, and put him in my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/josh-lanyon-1827_breathing_he-was-breathing-which-is-always-a-good_2773591.jpg" --- # He was breathing, which is always a good sign. As gently… ![“He was breathing, which is always a good sign. As gently as I could I picked him up, placed him on the towel, wrapped it around him, and put him in my car. I drove to the emergency clinic, the cat purring on the seat beside me. “What’s his name?” the young man at the front desk asked as my towel…” quote by Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/josh-lanyon-1827_breathing_he-was-breathing-which-is-always-a-good_2773591.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/josh-lanyon-1827_breathing_he-was-breathing-which-is-always-a-good_2773591.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/josh-lanyon-1827_breathing_he-was-breathing-which-is-always-a-good_2773591.jpg) > “He was breathing, which is always a good sign. As gently as I could I picked him up, placed him on the towel, wrapped it around him, and put him in my car. I drove to the emergency clinic, the cat purring on the seat beside me. “What’s his name?” the young man at the front desk asked as my towel and cat were whisked to a back room. “Uh…John Tomkins,” I said. “That’s different,” the receptionist said, writing it down. “He was a pirate,” I said. “I mean Tomkins. I don’t know about the cat. (...)” [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator rescues a cat and a man, showing compassion and quick action in a crisis. **In simple terms:** Compassion leads to swift help. Key Takeaway Act with kindness when you can. Themes compassion emergency rescue Mood empathetic urgent Type narrative humanitarian When to use this quote - animal rescue - first aid - hospital visit Key Concepts humanity responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How does compassion change outcomes? - What drives you to help strangers? A Different Perspective Limited context may obscure full narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Front desk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-desk/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pirate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate/) [Receptionists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptionists/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“a door standing open that shouldn’t be; a shadow on the floor with no source to cast it; a cat purring and rubbing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/a-door-standing-open-that-shouldn-t-be-a-shadow-on-the-floor-with-no/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“A cat purring on your lap while you sip hot tea, is there anything better? Oh, and you’re floating in a zero gravity environment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-cat-purring-on-your-lap-while-you-sip-hot-tea-is-there-anything/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“My panties were still on but he didn’t let that stop him, nosing them out of the way and tonguing my sex, making low,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emme-rollins/my-panties-were-still-on-but-he-didn-t-let-that-stop-him-nosing-them/) [Emme Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emme-rollins/) > [“I didn't know you had a cat!' she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation-though not all are as bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/i-didn-t-know-you-had-a-cat-she-exclaimed-i-am-always-surprised-how/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [I mumble hocus-pocus and the next thing you know, I’m a cat. (Ravyn) I suppose it’s a step up. The last guy I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-mumble-hocus-pocus-and-the-next-thing-you-know-i-m-a-cat-ravyn-i/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Before a Cat will condescend To treat you as a trusted friend, Some little token of esteem Is needed, like a dish of cream;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-cat-will-condescend-to-treat-you-as-a-trusted-friend-some-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A cat, I am told, has nine lives. If that is true, I know how a cat feels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-chessman/a-cat-i-am-told-has-nine-lives-if-that-is-true-i-know-how-a-cat-feels/) [Caryl Chessman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-chessman/) > [ “You'd know if you were \[a cat person\]. It's like being a Christian or a Muslim. You just KNOW when you are one.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/you-d-know-if-you-were-a-cat-person-it-s-like-being-a-christian-or-a/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [“A voice spoke. It sounded like a lion would speak, if it could talk. I WARNED YOU! In a way that would probably have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-l-adams/a-voice-spoke-it-sounded-like-a-lion-would-speak-if-it-could-talk-i/) Emma L. Adams > [If you would know what a cat is thinking about, you must hold its paw in your hand for a long time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champfleury/if-you-would-know-what-a-cat-is-thinking-about-you-must-hold-its-paw/) [Champfleury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champfleury/) > [Right and responsibility go hand in hand. You can't give rights to those who are not responsible. If you want to let your canary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sina/right-and-responsibility-go-hand-in-hand-you-can-t-give-rights-to/) [Ali Sina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sina/) > [You know how when you're alone with your cat, your cat is kind of silly and goofy and kind of crazy? And as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-watkins/you-know-how-when-you-re-alone-with-your-cat-your-cat-is-kind-of/) [Michaela Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-watkins/) > [In nine lifetimes, you'll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-nine-lifetimes-you-ll-never-know-as-much-about-your-cat-as-your/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Cat lovers know that every cat is remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/cat-lovers-know-that-every-cat-is-remarkable/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [“She looks at my father, the human jaffa. 'Hey Dr Davis. You're looking...' 'Orange,' I say matter-of-factly. I turn and look at her, 'Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-sparrow/she-looks-at-my-father-the-human-jaffa-hey-dr-davis-you-re-looking/) [Rebecca Sparrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-sparrow/) ## More by Josh Lanyon > [“Emma sat up very straight in the saddle. Her eyes were huge, but she said bravely, “I could do it!” “I know you can.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/emma-sat-up-very-straight-in-the-saddle-her-eyes-were-huge-but-she/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“Max's scarred brow crinkled. He reached for the coffee mug on his desk. “Motive is tricky. See, what might be a good reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/max-s-scarred-brow-crinkled-he-reached-for-the-coffee-mug-on-his-desk/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“It was nearly five before Jake walked in. He was sunburnt, wet, and smelled faintly of fish. Sexy as hell. Don’t ask me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/it-was-nearly-five-before-jake-walked-in-he-was-sunburnt-wet-and/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“Law enforcement hardened you. It made you cynical about people. Even people you loved. The people who deserved your unconditional trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/law-enforcement-hardened-you-it-made-you-cynical-about-people-even/) [josh lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [Drink your coffee -- people in Africa are sleeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/drink-your-coffee-people-in-africa-are-sleeping/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“So you're like a ... an amateur sleuth?" "God no. I'm more like the hapless guys in those film-noir flicks we used to watch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/so-you-re-like-a-an-amateur-sleuth-god-no-i-m-more-like-the-hapless/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“ 'You know what I thought the first time I saw you?' 'No.' 'Point of no return.' ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/you-know-what-i-thought-the-first-time-i-saw-you-no-point-of-no-return/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [Jake's mouth found mine, his lips molding hot and soft to my own. His tongue tentatively tested the seal of my lips; I parted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/jake-s-mouth-found-mine-his-lips-molding-hot-and-soft-to-my-own-his/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [He needed fresh air and sunshine. A walk in the woods and afterward a good book to read by the fire. Yeah, that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/he-needed-fresh-air-and-sunshine-a-walk-in-the-woods-and-afterward-a/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [I love you," Jake whispered. "Are you strong enough for this?" I made myself comfortable. Said over my shoulder, "Sure." "Would you tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/i-love-you-jake-whispered-are-you-strong-enough-for-this-i-made/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [Kit, you're forty. You look thirty. You act...well, never mind. You're carrying on like you think you're seventy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/kit-you-re-forty-you-look-thirty-you-act-well-never-mind-you-re/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“That's one of the oldest tricks in the world, Adrien-with-an-e.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/that-s-one-of-the-oldest-tricks-in-the-world-adrien-with-an-e/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“You're Professor Mills? The new one who teaches history?" As opposed to the old Professor Mills who preached overthrow of the government?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/you-re-professor-mills-the-new-one-who-teaches-history-as-opposed-to/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [He never lied to me. I just didn't ask the questions I didn't want to know the answers to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/he-never-lied-to-me-i-just-didn-t-ask-the-questions-i-didn-t-want-to/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [“If there was one thing I learned in the last twenty-four hours, it was how short life is – how long death – and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/if-there-was-one-thing-i-learned-in-the-last-twenty-four-hours-it-was/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) [Explore all 203 Josh Lanyon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He was breathing, which is always a good sign. As gently as I could I picked him up, placed him on the towel, wrapped it around him, and put him in my car. I drove to the emergency clinic, the cat purring on the seat beside me. “What’s his name?” the young man at the front desk asked as my towel and cat were whisked to a back room. “Uh…John Tomkins,” I said. “That’s different,” the receptionist said, writing it down. “He was a pirate,” I said. “I mean Tomkins. I don’t know about the cat. 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