--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I pictured Becs and myself together…" description: "\"“I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but always over little things, while I rotted away at the core from love of Ferris. It was hopeless. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg" --- # I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but… ![“I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but always over little things, while I rotted away at the core from love of Ferris. It was hopeless. ‘Here.’ I laid my hands on the table, palms up, and jerked my head at them, ‘put yours on top.’ Ferris did not move. ‘Please,’ I said. He laid his…” quote by Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg) > ““I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but always over little things, while I rotted away at the core from love of Ferris. It was hopeless. ‘Here.’ I laid my hands on the table, palms up, and jerked my head at them, ‘put yours on top.’ Ferris did not move. ‘Please,’ I said. He laid his cold hands on mine and I curled my fingers, folding his within them. ‘Now,’ I said, ‘I’ve neither accepted nor refused. Speak it out plainly, tell me and I’ll do it.’ He cried, ‘Don’t put it onto me! Choose for yourself.’ ‘This is choosing. Tell Aunt I will do whatever you’ll have me do, and that’s my answer.’ I kept hold of his fingers. We stayed there silent and motionless for some time, while the candles burnt down. At last he said quietly, ‘It is a lot to give up.’ ‘Well. My history is bad enough without bigamy,’ I replied, at which he smiled but made no reply. The candles were half burnt. I took one and rose. ‘Goodnight, Ferris.’ ‘Goodnight, Jacob.”” [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two characters confront a painful decision, using physical contact as a metaphor for mutual vulnerability and choice. **In simple terms:** They grapple with love, sacrifice, and personal agency through a silent, symbolic act. Key Takeaway Acknowledge pain, choose consciously, and respect mutual boundaries. Themes love sacrifice choice vulnerability Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationship crisis - ethical dilemma - personal growth - boundary setting Key Concepts agency communication emotional intimacy Questions to Reflect On - What does true choice look like in painful situations? - How can silence both heal and hinder communication? A Different Perspective The scene may romanticize surrender, overlooking practical consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burnt Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burnt-said-5237856/) [Ferris Hopeless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ferris-hopeless-5237852/) [Goodnight Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodnight-jacob-5237855/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Ll Cried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-cried-5237854/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-ferris-5237853/) ## Related quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [His beauty isnt't what makes me love him more with each day that passes by but his sense of humour, his sweetness, his laughter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/his-beauty-isnt-t-what-makes-me-love-him-more-with-each-day-that/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/) [Cesar Nikko Caharian III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) [Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“The mass of men have been forced to be gay about the little things, but sad about the big ones. Nevertheless (I offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-mass-of-men-have-been-forced-to-be-gay-about-the-little-things/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Getting a burp out of your little thing when she needs it is probably the greatest satisfaction I've come across at this point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/getting-a-burp-out-of-your-little-thing-when-she-needs-it-is-probably/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“The little things really do matter. We remember the quirky things about each other and it makes us smile, think back into the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-lawshe/the-little-things-really-do-matter-we-remember-the-quirky-things/) [Cathy Lawshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-lawshe/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) ## More by Maria McCann > [“Are you afraid of dying, Ferris?' 'I'm afraid of not living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/are-you-afraid-of-dying-ferris-i-m-afraid-of-not-living/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“Behold,' said the Voice, 'earthly beauty. It is nothing but seeming, for to the uninstructed eye the world appears fruitful and sweet, yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/behold-said-the-voice-earthly-beauty-it-is-nothing-but-seeming-for-to/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“I mean that repeated offences, even when they secure forgiveness, drive out love. And from that I came to say that one may compel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-mean-that-repeated-offences-even-when-they-secure-forgiveness-drive/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [There had been a frozen mist here, and the trees were spun into feathers. Their fragile brilliance made me wonder why, into the spotlessness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/there-had-been-a-frozen-mist-here-and-the-trees-were-spun-into/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“Violent love eats up what it does love, and it is mere appetite. I scribbled on the bottom of this before sending it back:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/violent-love-eats-up-what-it-does-love-and-it-is-mere-appetite-i/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“How did men make themselves loved, I wondered. I had passed all my life with men who were loved but I seemed never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/how-did-men-make-themselves-loved-i-wondered-i-had-passed-all-my-life/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [I followed him up the stairs. I was a fornicator, of unnatural appetite, in thrall to an Atheist. I repeated the words in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-followed-him-up-the-stairs-i-was-a-fornicator-of-unnatural-appetite/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [I wondered at him, so wise and so foolish, to have lived with me all these months and not know that the worst storms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-wondered-at-him-so-wise-and-so-foolish-to-have-lived-with-me-all/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“I dig and plough at your command,' I replied, 'but you will not tell me how to shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-dig-and-plough-at-your-command-i-replied-but-you-will-not-tell-me/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“Will you still walk with me?’ ‘Would you walk with a bad angel?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/will-you-still-walk-with-me-would-you-walk-with-a-bad-angel/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“God cuts out our path, makes a groove in the clay with His finger, and we poor blind ants slide down into it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/god-cuts-out-our-path-makes-a-groove-in-the-clay-with-his-finger-and/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [But what virtue I do have is in me and of me. Men deny the good that comes from themselves, calling it God. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/but-what-virtue-i-do-have-is-in-me-and-of-me-men-deny-the-good-that/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“I studied the shape of my friend’s hands, and how he clasped them. I could smell his skin and hair in the cold air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-studied-the-shape-of-my-friend-s-hands-and-how-he-clasped-them-i/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [“You talked once of bodily dignity.’ ‘I’ve seen heads shot off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/you-talked-once-of-bodily-dignity-i-ve-seen-heads-shot-off/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) > [Speak to me, Jacob, do not play the tyrant. Speak to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/speak-to-me-jacob-do-not-play-the-tyrant-speak-to-me/) [Maria McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) [Explore all 18 Maria McCann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/) ## More Little things quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [“The little things really do matter. We remember the quirky things about each other and it makes us smile, think back into the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-lawshe/the-little-things-really-do-matter-we-remember-the-quirky-things/) [Cathy Lawshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-lawshe/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [No woman ever yet either reasoned or acted long together consequentially; but some little thing, some love, some resentment, somepresent momentary interest, some supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/no-woman-ever-yet-either-reasoned-or-acted-long-together/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Getting a burp out of your little thing when she needs it is probably the greatest satisfaction I've come across at this point in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/getting-a-burp-out-of-your-little-thing-when-she-needs-it-is-probably/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [“The mass of men have been forced to be gay about the little things, but sad about the big ones. Nevertheless (I offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-mass-of-men-have-been-forced-to-be-gay-about-the-little-things/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) [Randy Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-anderson/) > [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/) [Cesar Nikko Caharian III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/) > [Practice yourself, for heaven's sake in little things, and then proceed to greater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/practice-yourself-for-heaven-s-sake-in-little-things-and-then-proceed/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [His beauty isnt't what makes me love him more with each day that passes by but his sense of humour, his sweetness, his laughter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/his-beauty-isnt-t-what-makes-me-love-him-more-with-each-day-that/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) [Browse all 1,896 Little things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but always over little things, while I rotted away at the core from love of Ferris. It was hopeless. ‘Here.’ I laid my hands on the table, palms up, and jerked my head at them, ‘put yours on top.’ Ferris did not move. ‘Please,’ I said. He laid his cold hands on mine and I curled my fingers, folding his within them. ‘Now,’ I said, ‘I’ve neither accepted nor refused. Speak it out plainly, tell me and I’ll do it.’ He cried, ‘Don’t put it onto me! Choose for yourself.’ ‘This is choosing. Tell Aunt I will do whatever you’ll have me do, and that’s my answer.’ I kept hold of his fingers. We stayed there silent and motionless for some time, while the candles burnt down. At last he said quietly, ‘It is a lot to give up.’ ‘Well. My history is bad enough without bigamy,’ I replied, at which he smiled but made no reply. The candles were half burnt. I took one and rose. ‘Goodnight, Ferris.’ ‘Goodnight, Jacob.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maria McCann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squabbling-but-always-over-little/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Little things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squabbling-but-always-over-little/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/072/maria-mccann-29613_little-things_i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squa_1454190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I pictured Becs and myself together, squabbling, but always over little things, while I rotted away at the…” — Maria McCann", "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": "Maria McCann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-mccann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I pictured Becs and myself together,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squabbling-but-always-over-little/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-mccann/i-pictured-becs-and-myself-together-squabbling-but-always-over-little/#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 } } ] } ```