--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I couldn’t wait for high school to be…" description: "\"“I couldn’t wait for high school to be over. I didn’t let my exasperation show, however. I’d long since discovered how to live inside the shark tank w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/m-leighton-786_emotion_i-couldn-t-wait-for-high-school-to-be-ov_2535304.jpg" --- # I couldn’t wait for high school to be over. I didn’t let… ![“I couldn’t wait for high school to be over. I didn’t let my exasperation show, however. I’d long since discovered how to live inside the shark tank without getting eaten or becoming a shark: never let ‘em see you sweat. Don’t show any emotion, no matter how many you’re feeling. It just reveals…” quote by M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/m-leighton-786_emotion_i-couldn-t-wait-for-high-school-to-be-ov_2535304.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/m-leighton-786_emotion_i-couldn-t-wait-for-high-school-to-be-ov_2535304.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52b/m-leighton-786_emotion_i-couldn-t-wait-for-high-school-to-be-ov_2535304.jpg) > ““I couldn’t wait for high school to be over. I didn’t let my exasperation show, however.  I’d long since discovered how to live inside the shark tank without getting eaten or becoming a shark:  never let ‘em see you sweat.  Don’t show any emotion, no matter how many you’re feeling.  It just reveals your weaknesses and, to them, weaknesses are like blood in the water. I try never to let them see me get angry, upset, defensive, flustered, uncertain, anything.  I’m sure that, to them, I seem somewhat robotic, but it keeps me out of trouble and keeps them at arm’s length.  And that’s how I survive”” [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) ## 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 hides emotions to appear strong, treating vulnerability as a weakness that can be exploited, adopting a stoic, defensive stance for survival. **In simple terms:** Hide feelings to seem strong and avoid being targeted. Key Takeaway Control emotions to protect yourself. Themes vulnerability defense survival Mood defensive strategic Type advice psychological When to use this quote - workplace - competitive environments - personal relationships - high‑stress situations - leadership Key Concepts psychology social dynamics emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When have you pretended to be unemotional? - What are the costs of appearing robotic? A Different Perspective Emotional suppression can damage mental health and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Shark Tank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shark-tank/) ## Related quotes > [What's the inside of a shark smell like? I always thought it would smell like chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-hirsch/what-s-the-inside-of-a-shark-smell-like-i-always-thought-it-would/) [Judd Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-hirsch/) > [“A brick could be used as bait for the vampire shark. Since nobody’s ever seen a vampire shark, let alone caught one, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-as-bait-for-the-vampire-shark-since-nobody-s/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I don't always show my emotion. You don't always get to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/i-don-t-always-show-my-emotion-you-don-t-always-get-to-see-it/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [You don't have to have one emotion at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/you-don-t-have-to-have-one-emotion-at-a-time/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [We Finns don't show much emotion but it doesn't mean we don't have any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/we-finns-don-t-show-much-emotion-but-it-doesn-t-mean-we-don-t-have-any/) [Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/) > [Some say I don't show much emotion. That's just not my cup of tea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/some-say-i-don-t-show-much-emotion-that-s-just-not-my-cup-of-tea/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [We don't have emotion we do them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-julesstar/we-don-t-have-emotion-we-do-them/) [Andrew Julesstar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-julesstar/) > [Even as a boy, my dad always told me, 'Don't show emotion.' If I banged my cue, he would give me a row and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/even-as-a-boy-my-dad-always-told-me-don-t-show-emotion-if-i-banged-my/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) > [I show up to win. I don't show up to hurt a guy. I don't show up with emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-show-up-to-win-i-don-t-show-up-to-hurt-a-guy-i-don-t-show-up-with/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [People wonder why I don't show much emotion. That goes back to growing up. No matter what Kyle said, I wasn't going to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/people-wonder-why-i-don-t-show-much-emotion-that-goes-back-to-growing/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [I hope you next period happens in a shark tank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meh/i-hope-you-next-period-happens-in-a-shark-tank/) Meh > [One of the things that struck me is how authentic 'Shark Tank' is. I don't know how more real it can be. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/one-of-the-things-that-struck-me-is-how-authentic-shark-tank-is-i-don/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, I thought, why stop there? Why not add the Big Show, or Chris Jericho, or the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/i-wasn-t-surprised-at-all-in-fact-i-thought-why-stop-there-why-not/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [I think 'Shark Tank' is targeting companies that are really trying to raise their very first dollar. A lot of them aren't really tech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcclure/i-think-shark-tank-is-targeting-companies-that-are-really-trying-to/) [Dave McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcclure/) > [“And yet, it gives Peter nothing. Not now. Not today. Not when he needs... more. More than this well-executed idea. More than the shark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/and-yet-it-gives-peter-nothing-not-now-not-today-not-when-he-needs/) [Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/) ## More by M. Leighton > [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Dude, now you’re flirting? Even to my own ears, my comment sounds suggestive. The sad thing is, it was meant that way. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/dude-now-you-re-flirting-even-to-my-own-ears-my-comment-sounds/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“She chews the inside of her lip as she digests it all. I don’t think she has a clue how sexy and adorable she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-chews-the-inside-of-her-lip-as-she-digests-it-all-i-don-t-think/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Really?” “Really.” “Really really?” “Really really. Just remember, tonight you’re mine.” It worries how much I like the sound of that, the thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/really-really-really-really-really-really-just-remember-tonight-you/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“It’s me,” he says softly. “Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you. Don’t think with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/it-s-me-he-says-softly-stop-listening-to-everything-else-remember-the/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Someday I'll marry you, Miracle. And maybe someday after that, I'll deserve you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/someday-i-ll-marry-you-miracle-and-maybe-someday-after-that-i-ll/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [Somehow, while I wasn't looking, I fell. And I fell hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/somehow-while-i-wasn-t-looking-i-fell-and-i-fell-hard/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Don’t you think you should at least get dressed?” “Don’t you think you should at least give me my shirt then?” -Cash”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/don-t-you-think-you-should-at-least-get-dressed-don-t-you-think-you/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Please. I love her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/please-i-love-her/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“I’ve never really had feelings for a girl like her. Hell, I’ve never really had feelings for any girl period. Not like this anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-ve-never-really-had-feelings-for-a-girl-like-her-hell-i-ve-never/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Nash leans forward and cups my cheek with his hand. He cocks his head slightly as he considers me. “Don’t do that. Don’t ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/nash-leans-forward-and-cups-my-cheek-with-his-hand-he-cocks-his-head/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“He looks into my eyes for several intense seconds, watching me like I’m all he sees. And he’s all I see. For this moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/he-looks-into-my-eyes-for-several-intense-seconds-watching-me-like-i/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Before I can respond, Nash continues. “Or was I there, too?” He brushes his lips over mine. “Did you think of my lips when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/before-i-can-respond-nash-continues-or-was-i-there-too-he-brushes-his/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“Yep, I’m making a fool of myself. Again. Right in front of Nash. Is there no end to my embarrassment with this guy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/yep-i-m-making-a-fool-of-myself-again-right-in-front-of-nash-is-there/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [“You haven't failed me. You've breathed so much life into my existence. Don't ever be sorry for that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/you-haven-t-failed-me-you-ve-breathed-so-much-life-into-my-existence/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) [Explore all 364 M. Leighton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) ## More Emotion quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Of course I like you. It's because I like you I don't wanna be with you. It's a complicated emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin/of-course-i-like-you-it-s-because-i-like-you-i-don-t-wanna-be-with/) Marlin > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [“Emotion as well as reason belongs to the very stuff of history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-smalley/emotion-as-well-as-reason-belongs-to-the-very-stuff-of-history/) Beryl Smalley > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [There cannot be any communication except through form. If there is no form, you cannot create emotion in the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-resnais/there-cannot-be-any-communication-except-through-form-if-there-is-no/) [Alain Resnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-resnais/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ Music \[is\] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grabbed-it-to-shock-yourself-out/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [“What if each time you experienced an emotion, you acknowledged it, accepted it, and became curious about its message for you (instead of trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/what-if-each-time-you-experienced-an-emotion-you-acknowledged-it/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) [Browse all 7,204 Emotion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I couldn’t wait for high school to be over. I didn’t let my exasperation show, however.  I’d long since discovered how to live inside the shark tank without getting eaten or becoming a shark:  never let ‘em see you sweat.  Don’t show any emotion, no matter how many you’re feeling.  It just reveals your weaknesses and, to them, weaknesses are like blood in the water. 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