--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought it was. . . um.\" He cleared his…" description: "\"“I thought it was. . . um.\" He cleared his throat. \"But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot of pressure, and. . .\" He squirmed in the c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg" --- # I thought it was. . . um." He cleared his throat. "But… ![“I thought it was. . . um." He cleared his throat. "But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot of pressure, and. . ." He squirmed in the chair. "We were going to die, you know." "I know." She squeezed her knees into her chest. "And, no, it wasn't. . . I didn't think it was a bad kiss."…” quote by Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg) > ““I thought it was. . . um." He cleared his throat. "But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot of pressure, and. . ." He squirmed in the chair. "We were going to die, you know." "I know." She squeezed her knees into her chest. "And, no, it wasn't. . . I didn't think it was a bad kiss." "Oh, thank the stars." His head fell back against the chair. "Because if I'd ruined that for you, I was going to feel like such a cad.”” [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. The speaker expresses fear and anxiety about an intimate moment, feeling pressure and dread of consequences, yet also relief that it wasn’t harmful. **In simple terms:** Fear of intimacy and its possible fallout. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and discuss emotional pressure. Themes relationships anxiety intimacy Mood nervous relieved Type conversational emotional When to use this quote - dating - conflict resolution - personal growth - mental health counseling Key Concepts emotional vulnerability social expectations Questions to Reflect On - What fears arise in intimate moments? - How can we communicate pressure safely? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad Kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-kiss-1454541/) [Cress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cress/) [First kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-kiss/) [Head Fell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-fell-767462/) [Lunar-chronicles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lunar-chronicles/) [Pressure Squirmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure-squirmed-4870503/) [Squirmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squirmed-1730769/) [Squirmed Chair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squirmed-chair-4870504/) [Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thorne/) ## Related quotes > [“The other girl, Iko, cupped her chin with both hands. "This is so much better than a net drama.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-other-girl-iko-cupped-her-chin-with-both-hands-this-is-so-much/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Oh, yuck,” said Iko, trying to cover the hole with both hands. “I hate when my wiring is showing.” “I know the feeling.” Cinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/oh-yuck-said-iko-trying-to-cover-the-hole-with-both-hands-i-hate-when/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“I believe it is the mark of a great leader to question the decisions that came before him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-believe-it-is-the-mark-of-a-great-leader-to-question-the-decisions/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Finally, Cinder gulped. "I'm sorry I had to --" She gestured at the unconscious wedding coordinator, then waved her hand like shaking it off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/finally-cinder-gulped-i-m-sorry-i-had-to-she-gestured-at-the/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Captain?" "Yeah?" "Do you think it was destiny that brought us together?" He squinted and, after a thoughtful moment, shook his head. "No. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/captain-yeah-do-you-think-it-was-destiny-that-brought-us-together-he/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“When she was a child, the witch locked her away in a tower that had neither doors nor stairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/when-she-was-a-child-the-witch-locked-her-away-in-a-tower-that-had/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“When Rapunzel saw the prince, she fell over him and began to weep, and her tears dropped into his eyes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/when-rapunzel-saw-the-prince-she-fell-over-him-and-began-to-weep-and/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“All right, Miss Cryptic. What's the new plan, then?" Glancing around the room, Cinder tipped up her chin. "It starts with kidnapping the groom."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/all-right-miss-cryptic-what-s-the-new-plan-then-glancing-around-the/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Bending his head, Kai pressed his lips to her knuckles. The plating had no nerve endings, and yet the touch sent a tingle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/bending-his-head-kai-pressed-his-lips-to-her-knuckles-the-plating-had/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“The witch snipped off her golden hair and cast her out into a great desert”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-witch-snipped-off-her-golden-hair-and-cast-her-out-into-a-great/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [It's so interesting how much a bad kiss can ruin a date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lanter/it-s-so-interesting-how-much-a-bad-kiss-can-ruin-a-date/) [Matt Lanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lanter/) > [“Thorne shuffled his feet. “You know, if it was a bad kiss, you can just say so.” She stiffened. “That’s not at all what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/thorne-shuffled-his-feet-you-know-if-it-was-a-bad-kiss-you-can-just/) [marissa meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“When the king’s head fell beneath the guillotine, an unknown man is reported to have leaped onto the scaffold. He dipped his hand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-baigent/when-the-king-s-head-fell-beneath-the-guillotine-an-unknown-man-is/) [Michael Baigent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-baigent/) > [“I did have a stress toy to squeeze, in the shape of a dog, but I stressed the item too much and the head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-swallow/i-did-have-a-stress-toy-to-squeeze-in-the-shape-of-a-dog-but-i/) [L.J. Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-swallow/) > [“Sure, I wouldn’t be in range to do more than dial 911 if she slipped and hit her head and fell into the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-monroe/sure-i-wouldn-t-be-in-range-to-do-more-than-dial-911-if-she-slipped/) [Max Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-monroe/) ## 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 Cress quotes > [“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/) > [“A hand landed on Cress’s head. She gasped and recoiled, but Thorne was already wrapping his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/a-hand-landed-on-cress-s-head-she-gasped-and-recoiled-but-thorne-was/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“He is a stone, incapable of feeling anything, and I don't like being reminded that he's also human. I don't like to be reminded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-sebastian/he-is-a-stone-incapable-of-feeling-anything-and-i-don-t-like-being/) [Laura Sebastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-sebastian/) > [“He leaned forward to inspect her closer. "Is that all hair?" ... Sudden, overwhelming panic clawed up Cress's throat. With a squeak, she ducked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-leaned-forward-to-inspect-her-closer-is-that-all-hair-sudden/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“At the top of his file was a three-dimensional holograph scanned in from his military graduation. Cress preferred it to the infamous prison photo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/at-the-top-of-his-file-was-a-three-dimensional-holograph-scanned-in/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“She smoothed her skirt around her knees. “This Scarlet … you’re in love with her, aren’t you?” He froze, becoming stone still. As the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/she-smoothed-her-skirt-around-her-knees-this-scarlet-you-re-in-love/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“I guess it’s time.” While Cress’s thoughts continued to churn through the horrible things that could happen to her, she felt herself being suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-guess-it-s-time-while-cress-s-thoughts-continued-to-churn-through/) [marissa meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“The witch snipped off her golden hair and cast her out into a great desert”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-witch-snipped-off-her-golden-hair-and-cast-her-out-into-a-great/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Captain! To your left there’s a Lunar guard and on your right is a doctor who’s running tests on Lunars and I’m being held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/captain-to-your-left-there-s-a-lunar-guard-and-on-your-right-is-a/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“My life is an adventure." she said, growing confident as she opened her eyes again. "I will not be shackled to this satellite anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/my-life-is-an-adventure-she-said-growing-confident-as-she-opened-her/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Is that all hair? - Thorne, about Cress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/is-that-all-hair-thorne-about-cress/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Bending his head, Kai pressed his lips to her knuckles. The plating had no nerve endings, and yet the touch sent a tingle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/bending-his-head-kai-pressed-his-lips-to-her-knuckles-the-plating-had/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Knees suddenly weak, she reached for his forearms to stabilize herself. “You came for me.” He beamed, looking for all the world like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/knees-suddenly-weak-she-reached-for-his-forearms-to-stabilize-herself/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“All right, Miss Cryptic. What's the new plan, then?" Glancing around the room, Cinder tipped up her chin. "It starts with kidnapping the groom."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/all-right-miss-cryptic-what-s-the-new-plan-then-glancing-around-the/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“An animal?" Thorne said, and she realized he'd been waiting for her to further explain what she was seeing. "It has long legs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/an-animal-thorne-said-and-she-realized-he-d-been-waiting-for-her-to/) [marissa meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) [Browse all 32 Cress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cress/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I thought it was. . . um.\" He cleared his throat. \"But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot of pressure, and. . .\" He squirmed in the chair. \"We were going to die, you know.\" \"I know.\" She squeezed her knees into her chest. \"And, no, it wasn't. . . I didn't think it was a bad kiss.\" \"Oh, thank the stars.\" His head fell back against the chair. \"Because if I'd ruined that for you, I was going to feel like such a cad.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marissa Meyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throat-but-there-were-clearly-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cress" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throat-but-there-were-clearly-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb4/marissa-meyer-586_cress_i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throa_2206722.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought it was. . . um.\" He cleared his throat. \"But there were clearly a lot of expectations, and a lot…” — 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": "“I thought it was. . ....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throat-but-there-were-clearly-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/i-thought-it-was-um-he-cleared-his-throat-but-there-were-clearly-a/#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 } } ] } ```