--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To get a better idea try this: focus on…" description: "\"“To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and whatever you do don’t let your eyes wander past the perimeter of this page. Now imagine just ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/mark-z-danielewski-2497_deep-breath_to-get-a-better-idea-try-this-focus-on-t_380544.jpg" --- # To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and… ![“To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and whatever you do don’t let your eyes wander past the perimeter of this page. Now imagine just beyond your peripheral vision, maybe behind you, maybe to the side of you, maybe even in front of you, but right where you can’t see it, something…” quote by Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/mark-z-danielewski-2497_deep-breath_to-get-a-better-idea-try-this-focus-on-t_380544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/mark-z-danielewski-2497_deep-breath_to-get-a-better-idea-try-this-focus-on-t_380544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/mark-z-danielewski-2497_deep-breath_to-get-a-better-idea-try-this-focus-on-t_380544.jpg) > ““To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and whatever you do don’t let your eyes wander past the perimeter of this page. Now imagine just beyond your peripheral vision, maybe behind you, maybe to the side of you, maybe even in front of you, but right where you can’t see it, something is quietly closing in on you, so quiet in fact that you can only hear it as silence. Find those pockets without sound. That’s where it is. Right at this moment. But don’t look. Keep your eyes here. Now take a deep breath. Go ahead take and even deeper one. Only this time as you start to exhale try to imagine how fast it will happen, how hard it’s gonna hit you, how many times it will stab your jugular with it’s teeth or are they nails?, don’t worry, that particular detail doesn’t matter, because before you have time to even process that you should be moving, you should be running, you should at the very least be flinging up your arms – you sure as hell should be getting rid of this book – you won’t have time to even scream. Don’t look. I didn’t.”” [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage creates a visceral, claustrophobic tension by urging the reader to imagine an unseen threat closing in, emphasizing fear of the unknown and the urgency to act before being overwhelmed. **In simple terms:** Imagine an unseen danger closing in, forcing rapid action. Key Takeaway Act immediately when danger feels imminent. Themes fear urgency the unknown psychological tension Mood tense urgent foreboding Type literary psychological advisory When to use this quote - reading a horror novel - playing a suspenseful video game - experiencing a sudden emergency - performing on stage under pressure Key Concepts peripheral perception anticipation mind‑body response Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when you sense danger you can’t see? - What strategies help you stay calm under unseen threats? A Different Perspective The vivid description may cause anxiety for sensitive readers, limiting accessibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Hear Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-silence-384693/) [Let Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-eyes-231851/) [Silence Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-pockets-3452203/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Try Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-focus/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“A deviant spark flares in his eyes, daring me to deny him. I don’t. I can’t. He slides his fingers forward, groaning, pushing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/callie-hart/a-deviant-spark-flares-in-his-eyes-daring-me-to-deny-him-i-don-t-i/) [Callie Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/callie-hart/) > [“Run along, my friend, Andrei Petrovitch, put a hat on your learned head, and let us go where our eyes lead us. Our eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/run-along-my-friend-andrei-petrovitch-put-a-hat-on-your-learned-head/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [“I told you. When you look at me, you see more." I cradled his face in my hands and let my eyes roam over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-frank/i-told-you-when-you-look-at-me-you-see-more-i-cradled-his-face-in-my/) [Ella Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-frank/) > [“He had to learn how not to let his eyes be bewildered by manifestations, and thereby learn to treat appearances as signs and codes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/he-had-to-learn-how-not-to-let-his-eyes-be-bewildered-by/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [“Trust to yourself; let our own eyes determine; Be they our tripods, oracles, and gods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/trust-to-yourself-let-our-own-eyes-determine-be-they-our-tripods/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [They say it's what you make. I say it's up to fate; it's woven in my soul. I need to let you go. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imagine-dragons/they-say-it-s-what-you-make-i-say-it-s-up-to-fate-it-s-woven-in-my/) [Imagine Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imagine-dragons/) > [When there are no words, let your eyes do the talking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/when-there-are-no-words-let-your-eyes-do-the-talking/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [If my words fail, let my eyes and my heart be my language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirtha-michelle/if-my-words-fail-let-my-eyes-and-my-heart-be-my-language/) [Mirtha Michelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirtha-michelle/) > [“Hathin stared out across the water and deliberately let her eyes unfocus slightly. It did no good lodging your gaze on the waves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/hathin-stared-out-across-the-water-and-deliberately-let-her-eyes/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“Let your eyes be blind to all external attractions, your ears deaf to all the fascinations of flattery and light discourse.—These are nothing—and worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/let-your-eyes-be-blind-to-all-external-attractions-your-ears-deaf-to/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [I can tell you how to get what you want: You've just got to keep a thing in view and go for it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-locke/i-can-tell-you-how-to-get-what-you-want-you-ve-just-got-to-keep-a/) [William John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-locke/) > [Don't let your eyes look here and there, and don't look on someone elses' beauty, so that the devil will not conquer you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/don-t-let-your-eyes-look-here-and-there-and-don-t-look-on-someone/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [“Micah knew the power of a look. When two people touched from across a distance, that touch could be frightening, wary, or a stroke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/micah-knew-the-power-of-a-look-when-two-people-touched-from-across-a/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [So keep your mouth closed & let your eyes listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/so-keep-your-mouth-closed-let-your-eyes-listen/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“He was watching. But her muscles in her back would not let her turn around to let him see in her eyes what being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-vann/he-was-watching-but-her-muscles-in-her-back-would-not-let-her-turn/) [Holliday Vann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-vann/) ## More by Mark Z. Danielewski > [“Her. Her. Her. Future breezes implore me to stay. But I'm no future. I'm no past. Only ever contemporary of this path. I'll sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/her-her-her-future-breezes-implore-me-to-stay-but-i-m-no-future-i-m/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Keep true to the rare music in your heart, to the marvelous and unique form that is and shall always be nothing else but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/keep-true-to-the-rare-music-in-your-heart-to-the-marvelous-and-unique/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [We all create stories to protect ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/we-all-create-stories-to-protect-ourselves/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“Even up until these final eons of time, we felt we could create anything. We could build ourselves a heaven. But why? We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/even-up-until-these-final-eons-of-time-we-felt-we-could-create/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [I'm a big believer in big books, and that doesn't necessarily mean long books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/i-m-a-big-believer-in-big-books-and-that-doesn-t-necessarily-mean/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“the seriousness of emotional deprivation: It is not difficult to understand how children who have suffered from malnutrition or starvation need food and plenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/the-seriousness-of-emotional-deprivation-it-is-not-difficult-to/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [The greatest of love letters are always coded for the one and not the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/the-greatest-of-love-letters-are-always-coded-for-the-one-and-not-the/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Scientists estimate the universe unfolded from its state of infinite destiny\* - a moment commonly referred to as "the big bang" - approximately 1.3-2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/scientists-estimate-the-universe-unfolded-from-its-state-of-infinite/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“- Whenever we roam be beside me. When you're allone. When you go. When no one comes along. And for all we Wander. Encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/whenever-we-roam-be-beside-me-when-you-re-allone-when-you-go-when-no/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [I want something else. I'm not even sure what to call it anymore except I know it feels roomy and it's drenched in sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/i-want-something-else-i-m-not-even-sure-what-to-call-it-anymore/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“However, The haven-Slocum Theory also points out that this course is not without risk. An even greater number of people dwelling on The Navidson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/however-the-haven-slocum-theory-also-points-out-that-this-course-is/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“What can I say? I'm taken; I love how enthralled she remains by this festival of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/what-can-i-say-i-m-taken-i-love-how-enthralled-she-remains-by-this/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“There's only one choice now: finish what Zampanò himself failed to finish. Re-inter this thing in a binding tomb. Make it only a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/there-s-only-one-choice-now-finish-what-zampan-himself-failed-to/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [No gunfire, famine, or flies. Just lots of toothpaste, gardening and people stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/no-gunfire-famine-or-flies-just-lots-of-toothpaste-gardening-and/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > ['Lord of the Rings' was a set of books in which the world had been conceived before the characters were placed within that context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/lord-of-the-rings-was-a-set-of-books-in-which-the-world-had-been/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) [Explore all 162 Mark Z. Danielewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) ## More Deep breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a deep breath. Now, let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/take-a-deep-breath-now-let-go/) [Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/) > [Okay, so, flying,” I started, taking a deep breath and focusing on the thing I loved most in the world. “Flying is … great.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/okay-so-flying-i-started-taking-a-deep-breath-and-focusing-on-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/go-for-broke-always-try-and-do-too-much-dispense-with-safety-nets/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you take a deep breath and look around, 'Look what's happening to me!' can become 'Look what's happening!' And what's happening? The incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/if-you-take-a-deep-breath-and-look-around-look-what-s-happening-to-me/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [In life you are going to make mistakes, you're going to fall down, but it's the getting up that counts. Just like in baseball:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/in-life-you-are-going-to-make-mistakes-you-re-going-to-fall-down-but/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [I find that deep breathing and meditation help me handle practically any situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-east/i-find-that-deep-breathing-and-meditation-help-me-handle-practically/) [Nathan East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-east/) > [During a panic attack, I remember that today is just today and that is all that it is. I take a deep breath in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-greenfield/during-a-panic-attack-i-remember-that-today-is-just-today-and-that-is/) [Max Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-greenfield/) > [“Lianna took a deep breath and willed the water to come forth. A warm glow washed over her body, increasing in heat with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-steenbeeke/lianna-took-a-deep-breath-and-willed-the-water-to-come-forth-a-warm/) [Jeroen Steenbeeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroen-steenbeeke/) > [I take a deep breath. I'm not sure where that swell of desperation came from, but know that I've acknowledge it, it's impossible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-take-a-deep-breath-i-m-not-sure-where-that-swell-of-desperation/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-drew-a-deep-breath-well-i-m-back-he-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I took a deep breath, held that scent in my lungs for long seconds as I tried to inhale the normalcy that made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-deebs/i-took-a-deep-breath-held-that-scent-in-my-lungs-for-long-seconds-as/) [Tracy Deebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-deebs/) > [Today I close the door to the past , open the door to the future, take a deep breath, step on through and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/today-i-close-the-door-to-the-past-open-the-door-to-the-future-take-a/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“giving an explanation of why I cut was tough. I didn't even really understand why I did it. I took a deep breath. "Well...when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/giving-an-explanation-of-why-i-cut-was-tough-i-didn-t-even-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 358 Deep breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To get a better idea try this: focus on these words, and whatever you do don’t let your eyes wander past the perimeter of this page. Now imagine just beyond your peripheral vision, maybe behind you, maybe to the side of you, maybe even in front of you, but right where you can’t see it, something is quietly closing in on you, so quiet in fact that you can only hear it as silence. Find those pockets without sound. That’s where it is. Right at this moment. But don’t look. Keep your eyes here. Now take a deep breath. Go ahead take and even deeper one. Only this time as you start to exhale try to imagine how fast it will happen, how hard it’s gonna hit you, how many times it will stab your jugular with it’s teeth or are they nails?, don’t worry, that particular detail doesn’t matter, because before you have time to even process that you should be moving, you should be running, you should at the very least be flinging up your arms – you sure as hell should be getting rid of this book – you won’t have time to even scream. Don’t look. I didn’t.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Z. 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