--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When her hands reached out and poured the…" description: "\"When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as if she also poured something into me while I sat there sweating in my cab. It was like she hel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg" --- # When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as… ![“When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as if she also poured something into me while I sat there sweating in my cab. It was like she held a string and pulled on it just slightly to open me up. She got in, put a piece of herself inside me, and left again.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg) > “When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as if she also poured something into me while I sat there sweating in my cab. It was like she held a string and pulled on it just slightly to open me up. She got in, put a piece of herself inside me, and left again.” [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. A brief interaction can deeply affect us, as if another person shares part of themselves, opening emotional doors. **In simple terms:** Small gestures can profoundly move us. Key Takeaway Be open to emotional exchange. Themes connection intimacy empathy human interaction transformation Mood intimate thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - creative writing - relationship building - personal growth Key Concepts psychology interpersonal dynamics symbolic exchange Questions to Reflect On - What everyday moments have changed you? - How can we cultivate openness to others? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences such depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Tea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tea/) ## Related quotes > [“1. A Cup of Tea Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), recieved a university professor who came to inqure about Zen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyogen-senzaki-and-paul-reps/1-a-cup-of-tea-nan-in-a-japanese-master-during-the-meiji-era-1868/) [Nyogen Senzaki and Paul Reps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyogen-senzaki-and-paul-reps/) > [“Once upon a time an academic scientist went to visit a Zen Master, famous for being very wise. After greeting the scholar, the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-armstrong/once-upon-a-time-an-academic-scientist-went-to-visit-a-zen-master/) Jeffrey Armstrong > [“She smiled as she poured tea into his cup. “I hope you find your rooms comfortable?” “Quite.” He took a too-hasty sip of tea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/she-smiled-as-she-poured-tea-into-his-cup-i-hope-you-find-your-rooms/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“She brought the tea into the living room on a lacquered tray. The pot and cups were Japanese with unglazed rims. She poured. "Thanks," I said. "Well?" "Huh?" "Your family," she reminded. I sipped the tea. "This is really good. Really delicious." She raised her eyebrows. "That's what I thought. You're a good listener, Davy, and you can change the subject on a dime. You've hardly talked about yourself at all." "I talk... too much." "You talk about books, you talk about plays, you talk about movies, you talk about places, you talk about food, you talk about current events. You don't talk about yourself." I opened my mouth, then shut it again. I hadn't really thought about it. Sure, I didn't talk about the jumping, but the rest? "Well, there's not much to say. Not like those stories of growing up with four brothers." She smiled. "It's not going to work. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But I'm not going to be distracted again, nor fooled into talking about those idiots again." She poured more tea into my cup. I frowned. "Do I really do that?" "What? Not talk about yourself? Yes." "No, try and distract you." She stared at me. "You are fucking amazing. I've never seen someone so good at changing the subject." "I don't do it on purpose." She laughed. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gould/she-brought-the-tea-into-the-living-room-on-a-lacquered-tray-the-pot/) [Steven Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gould/) > [“out and started again? Well, she hated cold tea, so she tipped it onto the grass, holding her breath. No complaint, so she began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-fenwick/out-and-started-again-well-she-hated-cold-tea-so-she-tipped-it-onto/) Liz Fenwick > [Papa sat down at the table and poured his tea from the china tea set with pink flowers on the edges. I waited for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/papa-sat-down-at-the-table-and-poured-his-tea-from-the-china-tea-set/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“What silliness that we must consider the proper order of milk and tea when pouring a cup." Callie swallowed back a laugh. "I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/what-silliness-that-we-must-consider-the-proper-order-of-milk-and-tea/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [We've got to stop crying and start sweating, stop talking and start walking, stop cursing and start praying. The strength we need will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-ve-got-to-stop-crying-and-start-sweating-stop-talking-and-start/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Every poem is an infant labored into birth and I am drenched with sweating effort, tired from the pain and hurt of being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-santiago-baca/every-poem-is-an-infant-labored-into-birth-and-i-am-drenched-with/) [Jimmy Santiago Baca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-santiago-baca/) > [There's nothing that helps clear my mind and improve my mood more than sweating in a room with my friends to some amazing new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/there-s-nothing-that-helps-clear-my-mind-and-improve-my-mood-more/) [Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/) > [Obviously, I'm trying to control the intake of sugars, but carbs are fine because I'm obviously sweating like crazy out here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/obviously-i-m-trying-to-control-the-intake-of-sugars-but-carbs-are/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [Paper or razor blade, never give up And just remember just to hold out more A couple years ago I couldn't just control that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/paper-or-razor-blade-never-give-up-and-just-remember-just-to-hold-out/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## 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 Cab quotes > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Richard Price, who has made a fortune writing fake ghetto books, says he takes a cab into the ghetto, transcribes Black speech for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/richard-price-who-has-made-a-fortune-writing-fake-ghetto-books-says/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [We are about to part," said Neville. "Here are the boxes; here are the cabs. There is Percival in his billycock hat. He will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/we-are-about-to-part-said-neville-here-are-the-boxes-here-are-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Yeah, I'll pay your cab fare home, you can even use my best cologne, just don't be here in the morning when I wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/yeah-i-ll-pay-your-cab-fare-home-you-can-even-use-my-best-cologne/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I was born in the back seat of a Yellow Cab in a hospital loading zone and with the meter still running. I emerged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-was-born-in-the-back-seat-of-a-yellow-cab-in-a-hospital-loading/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm like Cab Calloway: I love the entertainment, and I've loved entertaining people ever since I was little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/i-m-like-cab-calloway-i-love-the-entertainment-and-i-ve-loved/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [Manhattan cabs are born old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-shepherd/manhattan-cabs-are-born-old/) [Jean Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-shepherd/) > [Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/anytime-four-new-yorkers-get-into-a-cab-together-without-arguing-a/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [It's about how whenever I fall in love, I have these expectations of the experience being a perfect dream, which, of course, ruins it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/it-s-about-how-whenever-i-fall-in-love-i-have-these-expectations-of/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/i-was-just-taking-her-hand-to-help-her-out-of-a-car-and-i-knew-it-was/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [Tokyo cab drivers are all ex-kamikaze pilots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/tokyo-cab-drivers-are-all-ex-kamikaze-pilots/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [In New York City, a lot of people think "the great outdoors" is the area between your front door and a taxi cab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/in-new-york-city-a-lot-of-people-think-the-great-outdoors-is-the-area/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) Browse all 192 Cab quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as if she also poured something into me while I sat there sweating in my cab. It was like she held a string and pulled on it just slightly to open me up. She got in, put a piece of herself inside me, and left again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Markus Zusak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-the-tea-it-was-as-if-she-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cab" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-the-tea-it-was-as-if-she-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/markus-zusak-165_cab_when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-th_344826.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When her hands reached out and poured the tea, it was as if she also poured something into me while I sat…” — Markus Zusak", "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": "Markus Zusak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When her hands reached out and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-the-tea-it-was-as-if-she-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-her-hands-reached-out-and-poured-the-tea-it-was-as-if-she-also/#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 } } ] } ```