--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He held her gaze steady while he…" description: "\"He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises. “She will honor me, protect me, obey me only when she believes I’m being reasonable—but I sho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/julie-garwood-2545_believe_he-held-her-gaze-steady-while-he-summari_1145019.png" --- # He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises… ![“He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises. “She will honor me, protect me, obey me only when she believes I’m being reasonable—but I shouldn’t hold out hope that that day will ever come—try to love me before she’s an old woman, and I’d better get it straight in my mind that she will…” quote by Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/julie-garwood-2545_believe_he-held-her-gaze-steady-while-he-summari_1145019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/julie-garwood-2545_believe_he-held-her-gaze-steady-while-he-summari_1145019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/julie-garwood-2545_believe_he-held-her-gaze-steady-while-he-summari_1145019.png) > “He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises. “She will honor me, protect me, obey me only when she believes I’m being reasonable—but I shouldn’t hold out hope that that day will ever come—try to love me before she’s an old woman, and I’d better get it straight in my mind that she will respect me until or unless I do something to prove I’m not worthy, and God save me then. Have I left anything out, Brenna?” [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man expresses his fear of never being truly trusted and hopes for love before it's too late, acknowledging his own unworthiness. **In simple terms:** He doubts being trusted and wants love before it's too late. Key Takeaway Recognize self‑worth and seek mutual respect. Themes trust love self‑esteem relationships vulnerability Mood melancholic hopeful Type advice reflective When to use this quote - romantic partnership - marriage counseling - personal reflection Key Concepts dependency expectation self‑worth Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept love only when you feel worthy? - How can you build trust without fear? A Different Perspective Hope may be unrealistic without genuine change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Promises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promises/) [Save me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-me/) ## Related quotes > [God will keep His promises to you as you honor your covenants with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-m-stephens/god-will-keep-his-promises-to-you-as-you-honor-your-covenants-with-him/) [Carole M. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-m-stephens/) > [I define discipline as the ability to make + keep promises and to honor commitments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-define-discipline-as-the-ability-to-make-keep-promises-and-to-honor/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I am doing what I am supposed to be doing right now. I smile knowing that I have the most wonderful husband, family, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-oz/i-am-doing-what-i-am-supposed-to-be-doing-right-now-i-smile-knowing/) [Daphne Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-oz/) > [In Businessweek magazine, they did a story a while ago about one of the ten things that the Chinese most want. One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-businessweek-magazine-they-did-a-story-a-while-ago-about-one-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Respect me. Be proud, and if you love me, a little afraid, because love so often looks like fear. We are alike. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/respect-me-be-proud-and-if-you-love-me-a-little-afraid-because-love/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Would you respect me if I didn't have this gun? Cause without it, I don't get it, and that's why I carry one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/would-you-respect-me-if-i-didn-t-have-this-gun-cause-without-it-i-don/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [When a man carries a gun all the time, the respect he thinks he's getting might really be fear. So I don't carry a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-griffith/when-a-man-carries-a-gun-all-the-time-the-respect-he-thinks-he-s/) [Andy Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-griffith/) > [There's one advantage in having been around as long as I have. Everybody in the Senate knows me, and - I'm going to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/there-s-one-advantage-in-having-been-around-as-long-as-i-have/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [And even in the hatred of the majority, there's a kind of triumph because I know that, although they'd never admit it, they secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-osborne/and-even-in-the-hatred-of-the-majority-there-s-a-kind-of-triumph/) [John Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-osborne/) > [I break an emcee off proper Yo don't check me, Ask your Moms and Pops, Yo they respect me, But here you stand, tryin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-break-an-emcee-off-proper-yo-don-t-check-me-ask-your-moms-and-pops/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Respect me, or put me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/respect-me-or-put-me-to-death/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [My son plays football so I coach a couple of his teams. My youngest son just started playing last year and I assistant coached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-son-plays-football-so-i-coach-a-couple-of-his-teams-my-youngest/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [If you come to me and say, 'Hey look I'm a racist,' or 'I discriminate against blacks,' or 'I don't like you because you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/if-you-come-to-me-and-say-hey-look-i-m-a-racist-or-i-discriminate/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [It was a good feeling to have a lot of support. A lot of people respect me as a player but also as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-martin/it-was-a-good-feeling-to-have-a-lot-of-support-a-lot-of-people/) [Kevin Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-martin/) > [Many chefs of a certain caliber do not see me as a chef. I don't have a restaurant. They see me as a TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giada-de-laurentiis/many-chefs-of-a-certain-caliber-do-not-see-me-as-a-chef-i-don-t-have/) [Giada De Laurentiis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giada-de-laurentiis/) ## More by Julie Garwood > [“Come to me Elizabeth. Let me make you mine...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/come-to-me-elizabeth-let-me-make-you-mine/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“She was bringing Laird Ramsey Sinclair’s brother home to him,” he replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/she-was-bringing-laird-ramsey-sinclair-s-brother-home-to-him-he/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [If you get yourself killed, I'll find your grave and spit on it," she threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/if-you-get-yourself-killed-i-ll-find-your-grave-and-spit-on-it-she/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [courting is for those who have not declared their love for one another- should not be considered a task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/courting-is-for-those-who-have-not-declared-their-love-for-one/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [My wife." "By what name is she called, Kincaid?" "Mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/my-wife-by-what-name-is-she-called-kincaid-mine/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [The chaos surrounding her was confusing. Everyone was suddenly talking at the same time. Perhaps she should try to swoon after all, Christine considered.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/the-chaos-surrounding-her-was-confusing-everyone-was-suddenly-talking/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Flirting is the first step in a long process of finding the right man or woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/flirting-is-the-first-step-in-a-long-process-of-finding-the-right-man/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Do you have feelings for this kind man?" "You shouldn't ask her such a question," Frances Catherine said. "But do you, Gillian?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/do-you-have-feelings-for-this-kind-man-you-shouldn-t-ask-her-such-a/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“She was more frightened of the stallion than she was of the Baron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/she-was-more-frightened-of-the-stallion-than-she-was-of-the-baron/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“One whisper, Judith, added to a thousand others will become a roar of discontent even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/one-whisper-judith-added-to-a-thousand-others-will-become-a-roar-of/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“muttered. “Your husband”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/muttered-your-husband/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [I am not a poor child, Lady Eleanor," Madelyne announced, letting her anger sound in her voice. "Duncan won't marry you. He won't sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/i-am-not-a-poor-child-lady-eleanor-madelyne-announced-letting-her/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“I'm a doctor," she reminded him. “Nothing embarrasses me.” “Yeah? So if I call the hospital while you’re making rounds, you won’t be embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/i-m-a-doctor-she-reminded-him-nothing-embarrasses-me-yeah-so-if-i/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Noah, if we were to get married, you couldn't date anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/noah-if-we-were-to-get-married-you-couldn-t-date-anymore/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“She started three wars in the first wee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/she-started-three-wars-in-the-first-wee/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) [Explore all 160 Julie Garwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises. “She will honor me, protect me, obey me only when she believes I’m being reasonable—but I shouldn’t hold out hope that that day will ever come—try to love me before she’s an old woman, and I’d better get it straight in my mind that she will respect me until or unless I do something to prove I’m not worthy, and God save me then. 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