--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And could it even really be called a…" description: "\"“And could it even really be called a kiss? It had been very, very short. And did it mean anything if the kisser (him) had been feeling terribly gratef..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/julia-quinn-282_forgiveness_and-could-it-even-really-be-called-a-kis_1632513.jpg" --- # And could it even really be called a kiss? It had been… ![“And could it even really be called a kiss? It had been very, very short. And did it mean anything if the kisser (him) had been feeling terribly grateful to the kissee (her) and possibly even indebted, in the most elemental of ways? She’d saved his life, after all. A kiss was not entirely out of…” quote by Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/julia-quinn-282_forgiveness_and-could-it-even-really-be-called-a-kis_1632513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/julia-quinn-282_forgiveness_and-could-it-even-really-be-called-a-kis_1632513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/julia-quinn-282_forgiveness_and-could-it-even-really-be-called-a-kis_1632513.jpg) > ““And could it even really be called a kiss? It had been very, very short. And did it mean anything if the kisser (him) had been feeling terribly grateful to the kissee (her) and possibly even indebted, in the most elemental of ways? She’d saved his life, after all. A kiss was not entirely out of order. Plus, he had said, “Forgive me.” Did it count as a kiss if the kisser had asked for forgiveness? Honoria thought not.”” [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brief, grateful kiss after a life‑saving act raises questions of intent, indebtedness, and forgiveness. **In simple terms:** A short kiss after a rescue may be complicated by gratitude and forgiveness. Key Takeaway Consider the motives behind gestures of intimacy. Themes love gratitude forgiveness power dynamics Mood conflicted reflective Type literary romantic When to use this quote - romantic confession - post‑rescue interaction - seeking forgiveness - intimate moments Key Concepts reciprocity moral ambiguity emotional debt Questions to Reflect On - Does gratitude diminish genuine affection? - Can forgiveness be expressed through intimacy? A Different Perspective The kiss may be seen as a transaction rather than genuine affection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Actually the action called a kiss represented nothing more for me than some place where my spirit could seek shelter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/actually-the-action-called-a-kiss-represented-nothing-more-for-me/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [What is this thing called a kiss? French, tongue, soul, chaste, motherly, fatherly, brotherly, sisterly, ass, genital, Judas, trembling, rough, hesitant, sweet, soft, wet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-sorrentino/what-is-this-thing-called-a-kiss-french-tongue-soul-chaste-motherly/) [Gilbert Sorrentino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-sorrentino/) > [“This was the kind of kiss that couldn’t really be called a kiss, the kind that involves arms and legs and necks and hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/this-was-the-kind-of-kiss-that-couldn-t-really-be-called-a-kiss-the/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“I conjured my father’s laugh and my mother’s cooking, the stars in the sky over Sylvan Lake. I made peace with anyone who might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout-sara-corbett/i-conjured-my-father-s-laugh-and-my-mother-s-cooking-the-stars-in-the/) Amanda Lindhout Sara Corbett > [And in the morning they asked forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/and-in-the-morning-they-asked-forgiveness/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [I've asked you for forgiveness, i've asked you for your grace, i've asked you for your blessing, i've asked that I be saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mudvayne/i-ve-asked-you-for-forgiveness-i-ve-asked-you-for-your-grace-i-ve/) [Mudvayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mudvayne/) > [God asked, what is forgiveness? A little girl gave a lovely reply: it is the wonderful fruit that a tree gives when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-asked-what-is-forgiveness-a-little-girl-gave-a-lovely-reply-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Someone asked ! What is Forgiveness?? A lovely reply.. It is the wonderful fruit that a tree gives when it is being hurt by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/someone-asked-what-is-forgiveness-a-lovely-reply-it-is-the-wonderful/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesnt work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-asked-god-for-a-bike-but-i-know-god-doesnt-work-that-way-so-i-stole/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world would never find peace until men fell at their women's feet and asked for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-would-never-find-peace-until-men-fell-at-their-women-s-feet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Real christians always forgive before they are asked for forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/real-christians-always-forgive-before-they-are-asked-for-forgiveness/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [“Freedom continues to be the thing I prize most in the world. Of course, this has led me to drink wines I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/freedom-continues-to-be-the-thing-i-prize-most-in-the-world-of-course/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I always asked for forgiveness for my sins right away but I never accepted it until I felt right that I had suffered enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/i-always-asked-for-forgiveness-for-my-sins-right-away-but-i-never/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“The best thing we can do with the failures of the past is to let them be history. Yes, it happened. Certainly it hurt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/the-best-thing-we-can-do-with-the-failures-of-the-past-is-to-let-them/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“She forgave them, not because they had asked for forgiveness, since they did no such thing, nor because they deserved it, but because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talidari/she-forgave-them-not-because-they-had-asked-for-forgiveness-since/) [Talidari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talidari/) ## More by Julia Quinn > [“what a sad pair we are," she said. "Surely we can manage a conversation on a topic other than our respective terrible evenings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-a-sad-pair-we-are-she-said-surely-we-can-manage-a-conversation/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [But Hyacinth Bridgerton, who at ten should have known the least about kisses of anyone, just blinked thoughtfully, and said, " I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/but-hyacinth-bridgerton-who-at-ten-should-have-known-the-least-about/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [You are always looking at people like this.” And then she made a face, one he couldn’t possibly begin to describe. “If I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/you-are-always-looking-at-people-like-this-and-then-she-made-a-face/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Charlotte had tried to read his work. It seemed only polite, after all, given that they were neighbors. But after a while, she'd simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/charlotte-had-tried-to-read-his-work-it-seemed-only-polite-after-all/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Yes?" "When you said you weren't angry..." "Yes?" "Were you?" "I was rather annoyed," he admitted. "But not angry?" She sounded as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/yes-when-you-said-you-weren-t-angry-yes-were-you-i-was-rather-annoyed/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daniel held himself very still, waiting for the wave of jealousy that never came. He was furious with the man who’d taken advantage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daniel-held-himself-very-still-waiting-for-the-wave-of-jealousy-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“ "What do you say, Miss Lyndon? Shall we have a go at it?" " 'Shall we have a go at it?' " Ellie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-do-you-say-miss-lyndon-shall-we-have-a-go-at-it-shall-we-have-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Just curious,she mouthed. "What? I didn't catch that." Jjuussttccuurriioouuss.She drew it out this time, hoping he'd be able to read her lips. "If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/just-curious-she-mouthed-what-i-didn-t-catch-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“It was nearly impossible to keep anything a secret, especially from her sisters, the youngest of whom—Hyacinth—could probably have won the war against Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-nearly-impossible-to-keep-anything-a-secret-especially-from/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Something important is always about to happen... And if not, you'd do well to act as if it were. You'll enjoy life better that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/something-important-is-always-about-to-happen-and-if-not-you-d-do/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Sophie picked her way through the forest, stepping over tree roots, and pushing aside low-lying branches, letting them snap back behind her with reckless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/sophie-picked-her-way-through-the-forest-stepping-over-tree-roots-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [People will think you're courting me.' 'Nonsense, everyone knows I don't court respectable women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/people-will-think-you-re-courting-me-nonsense-everyone-knows-i-don-t/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“If you cannot recognize the problem, there is no way that I could explain it to you." He laughed, damn the man. "My goodness,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/if-you-cannot-recognize-the-problem-there-is-no-way-that-i-could/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) [Explore all 726 Julia Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## More Forgiveness quotes > [“Lord I come before you, I repent all my sins; forgive me. I repent on behalf of my children forgive them Lord. Help them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/lord-i-come-before-you-i-repent-all-my-sins-forgive-me-i-repent-on/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Forgiveness is not saying, What you did to me is okay. It is saying, Im not going to let what you did to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate/forgiveness-is-not-saying-what-you-did-to-me-is-okay-it-is-saying-im/) [Nate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate/) > [“So in practicing blanket forgiveness you first assume that in any current condition of pain or discomfort there is some anger involved, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-kahili-king/so-in-practicing-blanket-forgiveness-you-first-assume-that-in-any/) Serge Kahili King > [Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough...live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-what-is-given-to-you-and-do-it-well-and-you-will-have-done-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The public, more often than not, will forgive mistakes, but it will not forgive trying to wiggle out of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/the-public-more-often-than-not-will-forgive-mistakes-but-it-will-not/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) > [A Real Boyfriend does the sweetest things randomly because he never wants her to feel unappreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/a-real-boyfriend-does-the-sweetest-things-randomly-because-he-never/) Enhance Dreams > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [Friendship means understanding, not argument. it means forgiveness, not forgetting. it means the memories last, even if contact is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sokhom/friendship-means-understanding-not-argument-it-means-forgiveness-not/) [Sokhom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sokhom/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [“Have an open mind and heart. Learn to journey in understanding and forgiveness. It's not always going to be easy but it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-elle/have-an-open-mind-and-heart-learn-to-journey-in-understanding-and/) [Alexandra Elle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-elle/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can't forgive and forget, pick only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-brault/if-you-can-t-forgive-and-forget-pick-only-one/) [Robert Brault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-brault/) [Browse all 8,311 Forgiveness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And could it even really be called a kiss? It had been very, very short. And did it mean anything if the kisser (him) had been feeling terribly grateful to the kissee (her) and possibly even indebted, in the most elemental of ways? She’d saved his life, after all. A kiss was not entirely out of order. 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