--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The door closes and then there’s a long…" description: "\"“The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath. Marissa is taller than Olivia. Thinner, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg" --- # The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it… ![“The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath. Marissa is taller than Olivia. Thinner, too. But Olivia is curvier. Much curvier. And every single one is displayed to absolute perfection in the dress she’s wearing. I think I’ve seen…” quote by M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg) > ““The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath. Marissa is taller than Olivia. Thinner, too. But Olivia is curvier. Much curvier. And every single one is displayed to absolute perfection in the dress she’s wearing. I think I’ve seen Marissa in it before, and she looked great. But not great like this. The material is some kind of thin, almost sheer stuff in dark red. It flutters in the air that stirs as the door comes to a rest against the stopper with a muffled thump. Olivia stands still and lets me appraise her before she starts toward me. I clench my jaw to keep my mouth from dropping open as I watch her. The wispy cloth clings to her body as she walks, outlining her form perfectly. She might as well be nude. Holy mother, I wish she was. I shake off the thought, knowing I can’t go forward tonight thinking things like that. Think with the big head, man! Think with the big head!”” [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 is overwhelmed by desire and self‑control, noting physical attraction and the struggle to stay rational. **In simple terms:** Desire battles reason. Key Takeaway Pause before acting on impulse. Themes desire self‑control objectification Mood conflicted reflective Type literary psychological When to use this quote - dating - personal relationships - self‑discipline - mindfulness practice Key Concepts psychology of attraction impulse regulation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance attraction with respect? - What strategies keep you grounded? A Different Perspective Intense focus on appearance can objectify and distort perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-head/) [Breath Marissa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath-marissa-3050266/) [Door Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/door-comes-786558/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Marissa Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marissa-looked-3050263/) [Night thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-thinking/) [Seen Marissa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen-marissa-3050264/) [Taller Olivia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taller-olivia-3050265/) ## Related quotes > [“Eli abruptly stands. His chair rocks, then hits the floor. “It means Mom’s mental stability was more fragile than we thought in those last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/eli-abruptly-stands-his-chair-rocks-then-hits-the-floor-it-means-mom/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [You don't like it that I am the one you need to keep the wolf from the door; that comes as no surprise. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/you-don-t-like-it-that-i-am-the-one-you-need-to-keep-the-wolf-from/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [I'm not opposed to anything. If an opportunity comes across, I'll answer the door if it comes knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brown/i-m-not-opposed-to-anything-if-an-opportunity-comes-across-i-ll/) [Rob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brown/) > [Bina rolls her eyes, hands on her hips, glances at the door. Then she comes over and drops her bag and plops down beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/bina-rolls-her-eyes-hands-on-her-hips-glances-at-the-door-then-she/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I shake off the thought, knowing I can’t go forward tonight thinking things like that. Think with the big head, man! Think with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-shake-off-the-thought-knowing-i-can-t-go-forward-tonight-thinking/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [All I understood was that she was the girl I sat up every night thinking about and when Im with her I feel happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-meets-world/all-i-understood-was-that-she-was-the-girl-i-sat-up-every-night/) [Boy Meets World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-meets-world/) > [At first I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gaynor/at-first-i-was-afraid-i-was-petrified-kept-thinking-i-could-never/) [Gloria Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-gaynor/) > [I bet you didn't know that she cries herself to sleep every night thinking of you, replaying everything you ever said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-you-didn-t-know-that-she-cries-herself-to-sleep-every-night/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gentlemen, I have spent the night thinking about this Peruvian (peace) initiative and I have to tell you that if it is your decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/gentlemen-i-have-spent-the-night-thinking-about-this-peruvian-peace/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I know he played on the last record but I don't wake up in the middle of the night thinking of Eric Clapton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-bruce/i-know-he-played-on-the-last-record-but-i-don-t-wake-up-in-the-middle/) [Jack Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-bruce/) > [“Mathias remembered that once when he was a boy, he'd gone up to a pile of red apples that lay in the market cart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-bruni/mathias-remembered-that-once-when-he-was-a-boy-he-d-gone-up-to-a-pile/) [Riccardo Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-bruni/) > [“I spent the rest of that day and most of the night thinking about all the hundreds of people I had met in rehabs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pax-prentiss/i-spent-the-rest-of-that-day-and-most-of-the-night-thinking-about-all/) [Pax Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pax-prentiss/) > [I am all alone. I feel nothing. I am in pain it hurts so much that you took my feelings for granted and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-beasley/i-am-all-alone-i-feel-nothing-i-am-in-pain-it-hurts-so-much-that-you/) [Kara Beasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-beasley/) > [“The thingy? You want me, the most intelligent cognitive processor in the known worlds, to say thingy?” “Yes,” I reaffirmed. “That is correct." Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/the-thingy-you-want-me-the-most-intelligent-cognitive-processor-in/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [Everyday I tell myself I need to get over you, But every night I find myself thinking about how much I want you back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyday-i-tell-myself-i-need-to-get-over-you-but-every-night-i-find/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Big head quotes > [All My Children taught me a great work ethic; you work so hard on a soap opera! It is a good way to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-larue/all-my-children-taught-me-a-great-work-ethic-you-work-so-hard-on-a/) [Eva LaRue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-larue/) > [It's hard not to get a big head in the film industry, there are people on a set paid to cater to your every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/it-s-hard-not-to-get-a-big-head-in-the-film-industry-there-are-people/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [FLIRTING WORDS = Big Head , Punk, Ugly, We gone fight !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shae/flirting-words-big-head-punk-ugly-we-gone-fight/) [Shae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shae/) > [I hate when people forget what they were in the past and only becasue they have lots of things now they become big headed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie/i-hate-when-people-forget-what-they-were-in-the-past-and-only-becasue/) [Rosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie/) > [I'm too competitive to get that big of a head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-dillashaw/i-m-too-competitive-to-get-that-big-of-a-head/) [T.J. Dillashaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-dillashaw/) > [If a woman Carries your big headed child for 9 months, least u can do is respect && support her!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-santana/if-a-woman-carries-your-big-headed-child-for-9-months-least-u-can-do/) [Jason Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-santana/) > [Be yourself, fill your life with good people, and don't get a big head. It can all be gone tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-sims/be-yourself-fill-your-life-with-good-people-and-don-t-get-a-big-head/) [Molly Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-sims/) > [He had a big head and a face so ugly it became almost fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/he-had-a-big-head-and-a-face-so-ugly-it-became-almost-fascinating/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I’ve been the same guy since day one. No matter how successful I am in life, I’m going to stay true to myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/i-ve-been-the-same-guy-since-day-one-no-matter-how-successful-i-am-in/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [“Fader: As we’ve discussed, there are sometimes countervailing forces in shopping. Crowds attract shoppers but might make them less likely to actually shop. (This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-sorensen/fader-as-we-ve-discussed-there-are-sometimes-countervailing-forces-in/) [Herb Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-sorensen/) > [“Any drinker knows how the process works: the first day you get drunk is okay, the morning after means a big head but so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/any-drinker-knows-how-the-process-works-the-first-day-you-get-drunk/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'd rather be on this side of the camera. I feel more comfortable. I'd rather keep myself centered and keep my ego as tepid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-sarchie/i-d-rather-be-on-this-side-of-the-camera-i-feel-more-comfortable-i-d/) [Ralph Sarchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-sarchie/) > [“Suddenly I realized I was standing on the hot wood of the dock, still touching elbows with Adam, staring at the skull-and-crossbones pendant. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/suddenly-i-realized-i-was-standing-on-the-hot-wood-of-the-dock-still/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [“We decided to become development psychologists and study children because there aren't any Martians. These brilliant beings with the little bodies and big heads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/we-decided-to-become-development-psychologists-and-study-children/) [Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/) > [I have a little bit of a big head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/i-have-a-little-bit-of-a-big-head/) [Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/) [Browse all 120 Big head quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-head/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath. Marissa is taller than Olivia. Thinner, too. But Olivia is curvier. Much curvier. And every single one is displayed to absolute perfection in the dress she’s wearing. I think I’ve seen Marissa in it before, and she looked great. But not great like this. The material is some kind of thin, almost sheer stuff in dark red. It flutters in the air that stirs as the door comes to a rest against the stopper with a muffled thump. Olivia stands still and lets me appraise her before she starts toward me. I clench my jaw to keep my mouth from dropping open as I watch her. The wispy cloth clings to her body as she walks, outlining her form perfectly. She might as well be nude. Holy mother, I wish she was. I shake off the thought, knowing I can’t go forward tonight thinking things like that. Think with the big head, man! Think with the big head!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M. Leighton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long-pause-before-it-swings-all/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big head" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long-pause-before-it-swings-all/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/598/m-leighton-786_big-head_the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long_1123289.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath…” — M. Leighton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "M. Leighton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The door closes and then there’s...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long-pause-before-it-swings-all/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/the-door-closes-and-then-there-s-a-long-pause-before-it-swings-all/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```