--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's…" description: "\"It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's nothing. How he hated and loved it. How proud he was of it, how wretched it was.\" — Maggie Stiefvater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/maggie-stiefvater-76_adam_it-was-nothing-but-it-was-adam-parrish-s_1742701.png" --- # It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's nothing. How he… ![“It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's nothing. How he hated and loved it. How proud he was of it, how wretched it was.” quote by Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/maggie-stiefvater-76_adam_it-was-nothing-but-it-was-adam-parrish-s_1742701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/maggie-stiefvater-76_adam_it-was-nothing-but-it-was-adam-parrish-s_1742701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/maggie-stiefvater-76_adam_it-was-nothing-but-it-was-adam-parrish-s_1742701.png) > “It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's nothing. How he hated and loved it. How proud he was of it, how wretched it was.” [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character wrestles with a paradoxical feeling of both love and hatred toward something that defines him, highlighting the complexity of identity and pride. **In simple terms:** He both loves and hates his defining thing. Key Takeaway Embrace contradictions in self‑understanding. Themes identity pride paradox emotion self‑reflection Mood conflicted reflective melancholic Type literary personal philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - self‑discovery - mental health - relationship dynamics Key Concepts existentialism psychology literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What does “nothing” symbolize for you? - How can you reconcile love and hate toward the same thing? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize self‑destructive pride, overlooking healthier self‑acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) [Adam parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam-parrish/) [Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated/) [Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parrish-1534155/) [Parrish Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parrish-hated-1534154/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-wretched-1534156/) ## Related quotes > [“Ronan's second secret was Adam Parrish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/ronan-s-second-secret-was-adam-parrish/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“He could not remember the last time he had cried. He did not want to stand and show them his teary face and receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/he-could-not-remember-the-last-time-he-had-cried-he-did-not-want-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Being Adam Parrish was a complicated thing, a wonder of muscles and organs, synapses and nerves. He was a miracle of moving parts, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/being-adam-parrish-was-a-complicated-thing-a-wonder-of-muscles-and/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Where do you live?" Adam's mouth was very set. "A place made for leaving" "That's not really an answer." "It's not really a place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/where-do-you-live-adam-s-mouth-was-very-set-a-place-made-for-leaving/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I know myself a Man-- Which is a proud and yet a wretched thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-davies/i-know-myself-a-man-which-is-a-proud-and-yet-a-wretched-thing/) [Sir John Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-davies/) > [“Is that why you look like hell?” “Thanks, Parrish. I like your face, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/is-that-why-you-look-like-hell-thanks-parrish-i-like-your-face-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“And what else would he get into? Kavinsky's dead so--Jesus Chrirst, listen to me. Jesus Christ." The cave walls crumbled yet more; the ritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/and-what-else-would-he-get-into-kavinsky-s-dead-so-jesus-chrirst/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Ronan spit on the ground beside the BMW. “I didn’t even realize that ‘midget’ was the Adam Parrish type,” he said. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/ronan-spit-on-the-ground-beside-the-bmw-i-didn-t-even-realize-that/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Adam Parrish was always thinking about his resources: money, time, sleep. On a school night, even one with supernatural threats breathing on his collar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/adam-parrish-was-always-thinking-about-his-resources-money-time-sleep/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Adam didn't look at him when he said, finally, "It doesn't matter how you say it. It's what you wanted, in the end. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/adam-didn-t-look-at-him-when-he-said-finally-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“From the passenger seat, Ronan began to swear at Adam. It was a long, involved swear, using every forbidden word possible, often in compound-word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/from-the-passenger-seat-ronan-began-to-swear-at-adam-it-was-a-long/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Above him, the stars were brutal and clear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/above-him-the-stars-were-brutal-and-clear/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Gansey thought of one hundred things that he could say to Adam about how it would be all right, how it was for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/gansey-thought-of-one-hundred-things-that-he-could-say-to-adam-about/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“You be careful, Adam Parrish. 'Cause one day you might get what you ask for. There might be girls in Henrietta who'll let you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/you-be-careful-adam-parrish-cause-one-day-you-might-get-what-you-ask/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Adam was beginning to realize he hadn't known Ronan at all. Or rather, he had known part of him and assumed it was all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/adam-was-beginning-to-realize-he-hadn-t-known-ronan-at-all-or-rather/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Maggie Stiefvater > [Sam reached his hand toward mine and I automatically put my fingers in his. With a guilty little smile he pulled my hand toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-reached-his-hand-toward-mine-and-i-automatically-put-my-fingers/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Once upon a time, there lived a boy, and he had to risk everything to keep what he loved. But really the story was:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/once-upon-a-time-there-lived-a-boy-and-he-had-to-risk-everything-to/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I think-I need to ask an embarrassing question. Do you think I could borrow a pair of scrubs? I-uh-my pants-" "Oh!" Cried the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-think-i-need-to-ask-an-embarrassing-question-do-you-think-i-could/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [We dance, we dance. You hold the thread of my soul. You spin, you spin. And you unravel the part from the whole. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/we-dance-we-dance-you-hold-the-thread-of-my-soul-you-spin-you-spin/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [It was the way she felt when she looked at the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/it-was-the-way-she-felt-when-she-looked-at-the-stars/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Mum once told Dad that vices are only vices when looked at through the frame of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/mum-once-told-dad-that-vices-are-only-vices-when-looked-at-through/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Why'd she leave so early? It's practically yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/why-d-she-leave-so-early-it-s-practically-yesterday/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [How long it takes us, each day, to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/how-long-it-takes-us-each-day-to-know-each-other/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“At least when he was at Aglionby he could turn over his papers to see the grades, concrete proof of his success at something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/at-least-when-he-was-at-aglionby-he-could-turn-over-his-papers-to-see/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [I'll cook the water...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-ll-cook-the-water/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“That's the one." In Puck Connolly's custody. That might be the last I see of that jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/that-s-the-one-in-puck-connolly-s-custody-that-might-be-the-last-i/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I asked,”Are you going to pick up next time I call you?” ”I did this time didn’t I?” “Say yes.” “Yes. Conditionally yes.”…... …”What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-asked-are-you-going-to-pick-up-next-time-i-call-you-i-did-this-time/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Tell me what it's like. The race." "What it's like is a battle. A mess of horses and men and blood. The fastest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/tell-me-what-it-s-like-the-race-what-it-s-like-is-a-battle-a-mess-of/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“I felt a tickle on my skin; it took me a moment to realize that Cole was driving his die-cast Mustang up my arm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/i-felt-a-tickle-on-my-skin-it-took-me-a-moment-to-realize-that-cole/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Happiness isn't something this island yields easily; the ground is too rocky and the sun too sparse for it to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/happiness-isn-t-something-this-island-yields-easily-the-ground-is-too/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) [Explore all 1,564 Maggie Stiefvater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More Adam quotes > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Adam could imagine what he looked like: a debauched nerd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/adam-could-imagine-what-he-looked-like-a-debauched-nerd/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [Adam Berenson knows how to compose, organize an ensemble, do musical research, play solo and trio piano, write for musical journals, and enlist others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/adam-berenson-knows-how-to-compose-organize-an-ensemble-do-musical/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I’d think there are degrees of greatness,” Adam said. “I don’t think so,” said Samuel. “That would be like saying there is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-d-think-there-are-degrees-of-greatness-adam-said-i-don-t-think-so/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Adam's lips are set in a grime line. I can't tell if he's about to cry or about to punch the guard. For his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/adam-s-lips-are-set-in-a-grime-line-i-can-t-tell-if-he-s-about-to-cry/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [Oh, Adam was a gardener, and God who made him sees That half a proper gardener's work is done upon his knees, So when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/oh-adam-was-a-gardener-and-god-who-made-him-sees-that-half-a-proper/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Barışı elde etmek için çabalayan her adam olağanüstü bir adamdır!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bar-elde-etmek-i-in-abalayan-her-adam-ola-an-st-bir-adamd-r/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 1,360 Adam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adam/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was nothing, but it was Adam Parrish's nothing. 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