--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But they were wasting their time. Because…" description: "\"“But they were wasting their time. Because Hassan stood with his arms wide open, smiling, waiting for the kite. And may God—if He exists, that is—strik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/khaled-hosseini-251_arms-wide-open_but-they-were-wasting-their-time-because_1051432.png" --- # But they were wasting their time. Because Hassan stood… ![“But they were wasting their time. Because Hassan stood with his arms wide open, smiling, waiting for the kite. And may God—if He exists, that is—strike me blind if the kite didn’t just drop into his outstretched arms.” quote by Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/khaled-hosseini-251_arms-wide-open_but-they-were-wasting-their-time-because_1051432.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/khaled-hosseini-251_arms-wide-open_but-they-were-wasting-their-time-because_1051432.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/khaled-hosseini-251_arms-wide-open_but-they-were-wasting-their-time-because_1051432.png) > ““But they were wasting their time. Because Hassan stood with his arms wide open, smiling, waiting for the kite. And may God—if He exists, that is—strike me blind if the kite didn’t just drop into his outstretched arms.”” [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A desperate hope that fate will intervene, reflecting deep longing for redemption and rescue. **In simple terms:** Hopeful plea for fate to bring a miracle. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience and faith while working toward your goals. Themes hope redemption faith longing Mood hopeful poetic melancholic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - waiting for opportunities - seeking forgiveness - rebuilding relationships - overcoming loss Key Concepts destiny human vulnerability spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take while hoping for a miracle? - How do you balance faith and effort? A Different Perspective Reliance on divine intervention may ignore personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms wide open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-wide-open/) [Blind Kite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind-kite-2515886/) [Hassan Stood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hassan-stood-2515882/) [Kite Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kite-didn-2515885/) [Kite God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kite-god-2515884/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waiting Kite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-kite-2515883/) ## Related quotes > [Love sits to my left, crying, broken, lost. Fear sits beside her, smiling, whispering, lying. As Hope wanders up, Circumstance rushes in, screaming, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/love-sits-to-my-left-crying-broken-lost-fear-sits-beside-her-smiling/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Well I just heard the news today It seems my life is gonna change I closed my eyes, begin to pray Then tears of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creed/well-i-just-heard-the-news-today-it-seems-my-life-is-gonna-change-i/) [Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creed/) > [I may look silly standing her with my arms wide open but I love you this big. I love you to the mood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luna/i-may-look-silly-standing-her-with-my-arms-wide-open-but-i-love-you/) [Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luna/) > [No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/no-one-else-can-feel-it-for-you-only-you-can-let-it-in-no-one-else-no/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [“Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/drench-yourself-in-words-unspoken-live-your-life-with-arms-wide-open/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/live-your-life-with-arms-wide-open-today-is-where-your-book-begins/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Even when your hearts been broken Hell be there with arms wide open Be strong and his love will lead you To fight another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/even-when-your-hearts-been-broken-hell-be-there-with-arms-wide-open/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [You go through life with your arms wide open. And one day, you will find the person who causes you to close your arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-fulfer/you-go-through-life-with-your-arms-wide-open-and-one-day-you-will/) [Carolyn Fulfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-fulfer/) > [No one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/no-one-else-can-speak-the-words-on-your-lips-drench-yourself-in-words/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [That perfect someone is out there waiting for you with arms wide open...the question is, when will you accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-perfect-someone-is-out-there-waiting-for-you-with-arms-wide-open/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like I'm on top of the world. Honestly, I feel like I've climbed a very giant mountain, and I'm just standing right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-feel-like-i-m-on-top-of-the-world-honestly-i-feel-like-i-ve-climbed/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [I'll take a breath, take you by my side Under the sunlight, Welcome to this place I'll show you love; I'll show you everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-take-a-breath-take-you-by-my-side-under-the-sunlight-welcome-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cahill/two-men-went-up-into-the-temple-to-pray-the-one-a-pharisee-and-the/) [Mark Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cahill/) > [“I want to be outside with the misfits, with the rebels, the dreamers, second-chance givers, the radical grace lavishers, the ones with arms wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/i-want-to-be-outside-with-the-misfits-with-the-rebels-the-dreamers/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [ So my reaction to hearing this corny-ass, horrible song \["With Arms Wide Open" by Creed\] is violent, uncontrollable, sustained weeping. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/so-my-reaction-to-hearing-this-corny-ass-horrible-song-with-arms-wide/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) ## More by Khaled Hosseini > [“Winter was every kid’s favorite season in Kabul, at least those whose fathers could afford to buy a good iron stove. The reason was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/winter-was-every-kid-s-favorite-season-in-kabul-at-least-those-whose/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Their fights didn’t so much end as dissipate, like a drop of ink in a bowl of water, with a residual taint that lingered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/their-fights-didn-t-so-much-end-as-dissipate-like-a-drop-of-ink-in-a/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“I think that everything he did, feeding the poor, giving money to friends in need, it was all a way of redeeming himself. 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I pray that my sins have not caught up with me the way I'd always feared they would.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-pray-i-pray-that-my-sins-have-not-caught-up-with-me-the-way-i-d/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“shoes: that putting them on a bed invited death into the family, that a quarrel would follow if one put on the left shoe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/shoes-that-putting-them-on-a-bed-invited-death-into-the-family-that-a/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it's that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-have-a-theory-about-marriage-monsieur-boustouler-and-it-s-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [The short of it is, as an aspiring writer, there is nothing as damaging to your credibility as saying that you don't like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/the-short-of-it-is-as-an-aspiring-writer-there-is-nothing-as-damaging/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [At that moment, she cannot think of a more reckless, irrational thing than choosing to become a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/at-that-moment-she-cannot-think-of-a-more-reckless-irrational-thing/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“He says this is war. There is no shame in war. Tell him he's wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/he-says-this-is-war-there-is-no-shame-in-war-tell-him-he-s-wrong-war/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [For many people in the west, Afghanistan is synonymous with the Soviet war and the Taliban. I wanted to remind people that Afghans had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/for-many-people-in-the-west-afghanistan-is-synonymous-with-the-soviet/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Educate yourself, learn about what refugees face when they don't have homes, after they have lost everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/educate-yourself-learn-about-what-refugees-face-when-they-don-t-have/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“Rahim Khan laughed. “Children aren’t coloring books. You don’t get to fill them with your favorite colors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/rahim-khan-laughed-children-aren-t-coloring-books-you-don-t-get-to/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) [Explore all 697 Khaled Hosseini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) ## More Arms wide open quotes > [Love sits to my left, crying, broken, lost. Fear sits beside her, smiling, whispering, lying. As Hope wanders up, Circumstance rushes in, screaming, driving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/love-sits-to-my-left-crying-broken-lost-fear-sits-beside-her-smiling/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [“I want to be outside with the misfits, with the rebels, the dreamers, second-chance givers, the radical grace lavishers, the ones with arms wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/i-want-to-be-outside-with-the-misfits-with-the-rebels-the-dreamers/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cahill/two-men-went-up-into-the-temple-to-pray-the-one-a-pharisee-and-the/) [Mark Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cahill/) > [I'll take a breath, take you by my side Under the sunlight, Welcome to this place I'll show you love; I'll show you everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-take-a-breath-take-you-by-my-side-under-the-sunlight-welcome-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel like I'm on top of the world. Honestly, I feel like I've climbed a very giant mountain, and I'm just standing right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-feel-like-i-m-on-top-of-the-world-honestly-i-feel-like-i-ve-climbed/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [That perfect someone is out there waiting for you with arms wide open...the question is, when will you accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-perfect-someone-is-out-there-waiting-for-you-with-arms-wide-open/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken. Live your life with arms wide open. Today is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/no-one-else-can-speak-the-words-on-your-lips-drench-yourself-in-words/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [You go through life with your arms wide open. And one day, you will find the person who causes you to close your arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-fulfer/you-go-through-life-with-your-arms-wide-open-and-one-day-you-will/) [Carolyn Fulfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-fulfer/) > [Even when your hearts been broken Hell be there with arms wide open Be strong and his love will lead you To fight another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-copeland/even-when-your-hearts-been-broken-hell-be-there-with-arms-wide-open/) [Rachel Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-copeland/) > [Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/live-your-life-with-arms-wide-open-today-is-where-your-book-begins/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [“Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/drench-yourself-in-words-unspoken-live-your-life-with-arms-wide-open/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/no-one-else-can-feel-it-for-you-only-you-can-let-it-in-no-one-else-no/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [I may look silly standing her with my arms wide open but I love you this big. I love you to the mood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luna/i-may-look-silly-standing-her-with-my-arms-wide-open-but-i-love-you/) [Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luna/) > [Well I just heard the news today It seems my life is gonna change I closed my eyes, begin to pray Then tears of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creed/well-i-just-heard-the-news-today-it-seems-my-life-is-gonna-change-i/) [Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creed/) > [ So my reaction to hearing this corny-ass, horrible song \["With Arms Wide Open" by Creed\] is violent, uncontrollable, sustained weeping. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/so-my-reaction-to-hearing-this-corny-ass-horrible-song-with-arms-wide/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) [Browse all 24 Arms wide open quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-wide-open/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But they were wasting their time. 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