--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling…" description: "\"For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling of falling when you know without question, that you've lost control of your car, or made a mistake that's beyo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/markus-zusak-165_calm_for-a-moment-i-panic-it-s-that-feeling-o_2669260.jpg" --- # For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling of falling when… ![“For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling of falling when you know without question, that you've lost control of your car, or made a mistake that's beyond repair. 'What do I do now?' I ask desperately. 'Tell me! What do I do now?' He remains calm. He looks at me closely and says, 'Keep living…” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/markus-zusak-165_calm_for-a-moment-i-panic-it-s-that-feeling-o_2669260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/markus-zusak-165_calm_for-a-moment-i-panic-it-s-that-feeling-o_2669260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c6/markus-zusak-165_calm_for-a-moment-i-panic-it-s-that-feeling-o_2669260.jpg) > “For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling of falling when you know without question, that you've lost control of your car, or made a mistake that's beyond repair. 'What do I do now?' I ask desperately. 'Tell me! What do I do now?' He remains calm. He looks at me closely and says, 'Keep living, Ed... It's only the pages that stop here.” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In a crisis, the narrator feels panic and loss of control, but a calm voice urges him to keep living, emphasizing resilience amid disaster. **In simple terms:** Even in panic, keep living and move forward. Key Takeaway Seek calm guidance when panic strikes. Themes panic control resilience guidance survival Mood hopeful steady Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - car accident recovery - emergency response - personal loss coping - mental health support Key Concepts psychological resilience crisis management existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - What inner resources can you draw on during panic? - How can you support others in crisis? A Different Perspective Calm advice may not solve practical problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Feeling Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-falling-1876308/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Look at me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-at-me/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Lost Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-control/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made a mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-a-mistake/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Moment Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-panic-1217211/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic/) [Panic Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic-feeling-2489318/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The sheer, ensorcelled panic of feeling moved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/the-sheer-ensorcelled-panic-of-feeling-moved/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [If you are sure that you are about to fail, then this strange and serene calmness can come over you or the most abject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gallagher/if-you-are-sure-that-you-are-about-to-fail-then-this-strange-and/) [Peter Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gallagher/) > [“One moment of panic doesn't cancel out years of steadfast love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-t-huey/one-moment-of-panic-doesn-t-cancel-out-years-of-steadfast-love/) [Michele T. Huey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-t-huey/) > [“A moment of panic washed over her. There was so little time, it might even now be too late to shape them. Look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/a-moment-of-panic-washed-over-her-there-was-so-little-time-it-might/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [I'm scared each time I start a movie, believe me. There's always a moment of panic when you're not sure if you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/i-m-scared-each-time-i-start-a-movie-believe-me-there-s-always-a/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [“Just before I fell asleep, I had a moment of panic ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryu-murakami/just-before-i-fell-asleep-i-had-a-moment-of-panic/) [Ryu Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryu-murakami/) > [Job-wise, I did have a moment of panic that I should have been a doctor a few years ago, but I hate when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beckinsale/job-wise-i-did-have-a-moment-of-panic-that-i-should-have-been-a/) [Kate Beckinsale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beckinsale/) > [There is no greater feeling than falling in love, and no greater pain than when you lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-greater-feeling-than-falling-in-love-and-no-greater-pain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As his flesh touched my spirit, the feeling of falling turned into a feeling of flying. I was soaring through time toward him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-whitcomb/as-his-flesh-touched-my-spirit-the-feeling-of-falling-turned-into-a/) [Laura Whitcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-whitcomb/) > [The worst feeling is falling for someone and knowing that they wont be there to catch you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/the-worst-feeling-is-falling-for-someone-and-knowing-that-they-wont/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [Its an incredible feeling falling in love someone who doesnt know you exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/its-an-incredible-feeling-falling-in-love-someone-who-doesnt-know-you/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I hate the feeling of falling - I'll never jump from a plane - but I love a good roller coaster. Go figure!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricki-lake/i-hate-the-feeling-of-falling-i-ll-never-jump-from-a-plane-but-i-love/) [Ricki Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricki-lake/) > [You know youre falling in love when the feeling of falling actually feels like youre floating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-know-youre-falling-in-love-when-the-feeling-of-falling-actually/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [I have a feeling I'm falling on rare occasions but most of the time I have my feet on the ground I can't help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/i-have-a-feeling-i-m-falling-on-rare-occasions-but-most-of-the-time-i/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [“The worst thing, is that you’ll never know the feeling of falling. Falling so in love with someone, and I don’t mean love, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maclean/the-worst-thing-is-that-you-ll-never-know-the-feeling-of-falling/) [Jay Maclean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maclean/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) [Simdi Onuora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simdi-onuora/) > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) [Michael Ben-Ari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ben-ari/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. 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With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a moment, I panic. It's that feeling of falling when you know without question, that you've lost control of your car, or made a mistake that's beyond repair. 'What do I do now?' I ask desperately. 'Tell me! What do I do now?' He remains calm. 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