---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held…"
description: "\"“Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one beat, two. Then he began to unravel from the tip of his tail, a slow unwinding of his strip..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png"
---

#  Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one…

![“Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one beat, two. Then he began to unravel from the tip of his tail, a slow unwinding of his stripes. ‘These things do not happen in dreams, dear girl,’ he said, vanishing up to his neck. ‘They happen only in nightmares.” quote by Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png)

> ““Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one beat, two. Then he began to unravel from the tip of his tail, a slow unwinding of his stripes. ‘These things do not happen in dreams, dear girl,’ he said, vanishing up to his neck. ‘They happen only in nightmares.””

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

## 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 warns that some experiences are too terrifying to be merely imagined; they become real nightmares.

**In simple terms:** Nightmares are real, not just dreams.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when fear is real.

Themes

fear reality psychology

Mood

tense mysterious

Type

literary warning

When to use this quote

- relationship anxiety
- creative writing
- mental health discussions

Key Concepts

perception trauma nightmare

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you differentiate fear from reality?
- What coping strategies help when confronting nightmares?

A Different Perspective

Nightmares can be metaphorical, not literal threats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/)

## Related quotes

> [“His eyes were slitted and intense, like he might need to have sex at any moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-wolff/his-eyes-were-slitted-and-intense-like-he-might-need-to-have-sex-at/)

[Veronica Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-wolff/)

> [“When they reached a maintenance closet, Iko ushered the escort-droid inside. “I want you to know that I hold nothing against you,” she said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/when-they-reached-a-maintenance-closet-iko-ushered-the-escort-droid/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“I'd expected to see yellow eyes, like a dog; instead, I realised as I stared back, that they weren't animal eyes... They were human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-mcgregor/i-d-expected-to-see-yellow-eyes-like-a-dog-instead-i-realised-as-i/)

Angel McGregor

> [“I’ve seen in the alleyway near the front entrance; the one with the glowing yellow eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-ve-seen-in-the-alleyway-near-the-front-entrance-the-one-with-the/)

[Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/)

> [“I did not pretend to be a mortal. I showed my lambent, yellow eyes at every turn. None of it made a difference. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-did-not-pretend-to-be-a-mortal-i-showed-my-lambent-yellow-eyes-at/)

[Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/)

> [“Those yellow eyes had seen the thing Ruby hid, even from herself. And when two people see a thing, for better or worse, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bond/those-yellow-eyes-had-seen-the-thing-ruby-hid-even-from-herself-and/)

[Cynthia Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bond/)

> [his yellow eyes gazed at me possessively -- I wondered if he realized that the way he looked at me was far more intimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/his-yellow-eyes-gazed-at-me-possessively-i-wondered-if-he-realized/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [Sam looked at me, yellow eyes catching and holding me. "I miss being me. I miss you. All the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-looked-at-me-yellow-eyes-catching-and-holding-me-i-miss-being-me/)

[Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/)

> [In El-harím, there lived a man, a man with yellow eyes. To me, he said, "Beware the whispers, for they whisper lies. Do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/in-el-har-m-there-lived-a-man-a-man-with-yellow-eyes-to-me-he-said/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Pressing his forehead to the cool glass, he held her gaze, her palm, his eyes pleading with her. Don’t go. Don’t leave me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-featherstone/pressing-his-forehead-to-the-cool-glass-he-held-her-gaze-her-palm-his/)

[Charlotte Featherstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-featherstone/)

> [“But Mari, I also need to be clear about something. If we do this, you won't be my friend with benefits." I held very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chamberlain/but-mari-i-also-need-to-be-clear-about-something-if-we-do-this-you/)

[Sarah Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chamberlain/)

> [“He held her gaze as he lowered his head toward her. He didn't kiss her though--just leaned kissably close and asked, "Will you let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-marr/he-held-her-gaze-as-he-lowered-his-head-toward-her-he-didn-t-kiss-her/)

[Melissa Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-marr/)

> [“I’ve let you threaten me with knives, push me up against walls, and pull my hair.” She held his gaze. “I say that’s enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-wells/i-ve-let-you-threaten-me-with-knives-push-me-up-against-walls-and/)

[Maggie Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-wells/)

> [“We held each other's gaze for a long moment and I willed my breath to come evenly instead of the uneven gasps that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-leigh/we-held-each-other-s-gaze-for-a-long-moment-and-i-willed-my-breath-to/)

[Amanda Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-leigh/)

> [“But every man has a cock, and every man knows how to use it for his pleasure. Maybe if he’s good, he knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-grace/but-every-man-has-a-cock-and-every-man-knows-how-to-use-it-for-his/)

[K.D. Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-grace/)

## More by Marissa Meyer

> [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary.” She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. “So I’m going to Luna, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/you-said-yourself-that-the-people-of-luna-need-a-revolutionary-she/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“See? Injustice. Here we are, risking our lives to rescue Kai and this whole planet, and Adri and Pearl get to go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/see-injustice-here-we-are-risking-our-lives-to-rescue-kai-and-this/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [Her mind emptied of everything but the gusting wind and how fragile Wolf looked in that heartbeat, like one movement could break him open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/her-mind-emptied-of-everything-but-the-gusting-wind-and-how-fragile/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“I asked you once... if you thought you would ever be willing to wear a crown again. Not as the queen of Luna, but...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-asked-you-once-if-you-thought-you-would-ever-be-willing-to-wear-a/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“Lunars have the unique ability to not only detect bioelectricity in others, but to also control it. They can manipulate it so that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/lunars-have-the-unique-ability-to-not-only-detect-bioelectricity-in/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“It's her! Selene! Your Majesty!" Cinder took a step back and felt her serenity slough away, leaving behind the same tension she'd lived with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/it-s-her-selene-your-majesty-cinder-took-a-step-back-and-felt-her/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“What came to mind was a dinosaur. A tiny velociraptor, no bigger than her thumb. Relatively small, bur surprisingly ferocious. When the hasty drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/what-came-to-mind-was-a-dinosaur-a-tiny-velociraptor-no-bigger-than/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [Steadying herself with both hands on the table, she managed an awkward bow… 'Your Highness,' she stammered, head lowered... The prince flinched and cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/steadying-herself-with-both-hands-on-the-table-she-managed-an-awkward/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [The Snow White the midnight the moon tales of the mechanics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-snow-white-the-midnight-the-moon-tales-of-the-mechanics/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“Someday soon, I fear the palace will be soaked through with blood and all of Artemisia Lake will be so red, even the Earthens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/someday-soon-i-fear-the-palace-will-be-soaked-through-with-blood-and/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“No, I'm saving you from your psychotic step-mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/no-i-m-saving-you-from-your-psychotic-step-mother/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“Hinges squeaked from the back of the house, followed by thumping footsteps and Winter's dreamy voice flowing through the house's narrow halls. "But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/hinges-squeaked-from-the-back-of-the-house-followed-by-thumping/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“you are important”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/you-are-important/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [“The others sat down to watch Iko work. She'd just finished teasing the hair at the crown of Scarlet's head when Scarlet asked, "Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-others-sat-down-to-watch-iko-work-she-d-just-finished-teasing-the/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

[Explore all 423 Marissa Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

## More Dreams quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

[Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/)

> [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/)

[Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one beat, two. Then he began to unravel from the tip of his tail, a slow unwinding of his stripes. ‘These things do not happen in dreams, dear girl,’ he said, vanishing up to his neck. ‘They happen only in nightmares.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marissa Meyer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-held-her-gaze-for-one-beat-two/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dreams"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-held-her-gaze-for-one-beat-two/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c7/marissa-meyer-586_dreams_cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-hel_448363.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he held her gaze for one beat, two. Then he began to unravel from the tip…” — Marissa Meyer",
                "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": "Marissa Meyer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Cheshire’s yellow eyes slitted as he...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-held-her-gaze-for-one-beat-two/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/cheshire-s-yellow-eyes-slitted-as-he-held-her-gaze-for-one-beat-two/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
