---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There, I saw Adam messing around with a…"
description: "\"“There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic tacs. I had found the source of the cinnamon taste of his kisses. He looked up. \"Want one?\" h..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg"
---

#  There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic…

![“There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic tacs. I had found the source of the cinnamon taste of his kisses. He looked up. &quot;Want one?&quot; he offered. &quot;Sure, thanks,&quot; I replied. He proceeded to knock exactly one tic tac into his palm and hand it to me. &quot;Are you sure you can spare this?&quot;…” quote by N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg)

> ““There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic tacs. I had found the source of the cinnamon taste of his kisses. He looked up. "Want one?" he offered. "Sure, thanks," I replied. He proceeded to knock exactly one tic tac into his palm and hand it to me. "Are you sure you can spare this?" I asked solemnly. "How many did you want?" "Well, more than one. Who gives somebody one tic tac? Would it kill to be a little more generous? some psychologist somewhere probably has some theory about one tic tac givers and fear of commitment." "Fear of commitment, my ass. You should be committed, you loon. If you were intended to have more than one tic tac, they would have just made tic tacs bigger. This is regulation sized tic tac, and it should be more than enough to satisfy your breath freshening needs," he said, sounding affronted. "A tic tac is not merely a breath freshener, it is a candy," I pointed out, voice rising in anger. Who was he calling a loon? "And they make them small on purpose, so you'll think you're getting more, and so you'll run out faster when someone asks for one, and you will give them a few!" "Why would someone ask for A tic tac when they really wanted several tic tacs? What does that say about their psychology?! Why not be honest from the get-go about what you want?!" he shouted back at me. " I didn't ask for one! You offered me one, God damn it!" "And as for your other points, it is primarily a breath freshener, and maybe you should alert the media about your great tic tac size conspiracy!" "I can't believe we're fighting about motherfucking tic tacs!" I screamed and the two of us glowered each other across my desk for several seconds before smiles slowly appeared on both of our faces. "Want to have make-up sex?" he asked. "Yeah, let's go," I said, getting up and heading for the bedroom.””

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A humorous debate over a tiny candy reveals deeper anxieties about generosity, commitment, and honesty.

**In simple terms:** A small candy sparks a big argument about honesty.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when minor issues mask larger emotional concerns.

Themes

humor communication honesty

Mood

playful reflective

Type

narrative dialogue

When to use this quote

- relationship counseling
- conflict resolution
- personal reflection
- team dynamics

Key Concepts

psychology of generosity commitment fear social negotiation

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the tic tac symbolize for you?
- How can you address underlying fears directly?

A Different Perspective

The argument may mask deeper relational issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-commitment/) [Tic Tac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tic-tac/)

## Related quotes

> [People that say I have a 'fear of commitment' don't understand my relationship with popcorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/people-that-say-i-have-a-fear-of-commitment-don-t-understand-my/)

[Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/)

> [“You do NOT fear your OWN ability to COMMIT. Just think about your unwavering dedication to your career, your notion of sisterhood and friendship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-north/you-do-not-fear-your-own-ability-to-commit-just-think-about-your/)

[Freya North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-north/)

> [Life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never-ending commitment to act until they achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/life-s-greatest-rewards-are-reserved-for-those-who-demonstrate-a/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [“In a hurry to escape he let himself out of the house and walked to the truck. Before he could climb inside Marilee raced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-ryan/in-a-hurry-to-escape-he-let-himself-out-of-the-house-and-walked-to/)

[R.C. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-ryan/)

> [When women hold off from marrying men, we call it independence. When men hold off from marrying women, we call it fear of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/when-women-hold-off-from-marrying-men-we-call-it-independence-when/)

[Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/)

> [The worst thing isn't a fear of commitment, the worst thing is being with the wrong person because of a fear of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-thing-isn-t-a-fear-of-commitment-the-worst-thing-is-being/)

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

> [When I started studying the issue and issues related to fatherlessness, I realized I had all of them. Fear of intimacy, fear of commitment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/when-i-started-studying-the-issue-and-issues-related-to/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Fear of commitment lies behind the fear of writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/fear-of-commitment-lies-behind-the-fear-of-writing/)

[Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/)

> [That common cold of the male psyche, fear of commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schickel/that-common-cold-of-the-male-psyche-fear-of-commitment/)

[Richard Schickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schickel/)

## More by N.M. Silber

> [“Holy freaking moly! Harvard really was well endowed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/holy-freaking-moly-harvard-really-was-well-endowed/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“ Okay, this is a fictional character," Lily began. "And he's like a human." "What?" Adam asked her, looking befuddled. "What the fuck does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/okay-this-is-a-fictional-character-lily-began-and-he-s-like-a-human/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“I have a penis," Josh announced out of the blue, pointing down into the water. "That's because you're a boy," I explained sagely. "Does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/i-have-a-penis-josh-announced-out-of-the-blue-pointing-down-into-the/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“Do you want to fuck me, Adam?" I asked through gritted teeth. "Is this a trick question?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/do-you-want-to-fuck-me-adam-i-asked-through-gritted-teeth-is-this-a/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“If I say it, will you say it too?" I asked, swallowing hard, even though my mouth was dry. I willed him silently not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/if-i-say-it-will-you-say-it-too-i-asked-swallowing-hard-even-though/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“And this is your close friend, Drew?" he asked looking at Mark... "Good buddy... Just hanging out here. Doing guy stuff." "Talking about women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/and-this-is-your-close-friend-drew-he-asked-looking-at-mark-good/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“Thanks. The women folk are downstairs. I would like to have your fiancé here join the other guys up in my man cave, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/thanks-the-women-folk-are-downstairs-i-would-like-to-have-your-fianc/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“Well, I'm going to try. Better to practice on somebody else's kid first." "Before what?" he asked, cautiously. "I was just joking." Suddenly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/well-i-m-going-to-try-better-to-practice-on-somebody-else-s-kid-first/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“I was incapable of producing anything coherent at the moment so rather than throwing out some witty banter in response I said something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/i-was-incapable-of-producing-anything-coherent-at-the-moment-so/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“I’m not adorable,” I said, feeling unreasonably irritated. “Chipmunks are adorable. I’m empowered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/i-m-not-adorable-i-said-feeling-unreasonably-irritated-chipmunks-are/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“Okay," Adam began, "Now concentrate! This was a real person. White suit!" "Colonel Sanders!" Lily replied quickly. "Colonel Sanders? I said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/okay-adam-began-now-concentrate-this-was-a-real-person-white-suit/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“I like good smut,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/i-like-good-smut/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“I want to have hot, sweaty, monkey sex with you. Okay, perhaps that's too candid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/i-want-to-have-hot-sweaty-monkey-sex-with-you-okay-perhaps-that-s-too/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“Just flirt with him and see what happens - those were famous last words if I ever heard them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/just-flirt-with-him-and-see-what-happens-those-were-famous-last-words/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

> [“The music came on and I was amused to hear Pitbull singing Mr. Right Now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/the-music-came-on-and-i-was-amused-to-hear-pitbull-singing-mr-right/)

[N.M. Silber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

[Explore all 23 N.M. Silber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/)

## More Fear quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

> [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

Nagisa Tatsumi

> [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/)

[Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/)

> [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/)

[Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

[Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic tacs. I had found the source of the cinnamon taste of his kisses. He looked up. \"Want one?\" he offered. \"Sure, thanks,\" I replied. He proceeded to knock exactly one tic tac into his palm and hand it to me. \"Are you sure you can spare this?\" I asked solemnly. \"How many did you want?\" \"Well, more than one. Who gives somebody one tic tac? Would it kill to be a little more generous? some psychologist somewhere probably has some theory about one tic tac givers and fear of commitment.\" \"Fear of commitment, my ass. You should be committed, you loon. If you were intended to have more than one tic tac, they would have just made tic tacs bigger. This is regulation sized tic tac, and it should be more than enough to satisfy your breath freshening needs,\" he said, sounding affronted. \"A tic tac is not merely a breath freshener, it is a candy,\" I pointed out, voice rising in anger. Who was he calling a loon? \"And they make them small on purpose, so you'll think you're getting more, and so you'll run out faster when someone asks for one, and you will give them a few!\" \"Why would someone ask for A tic tac when they really wanted several tic tacs? What does that say about their psychology?! Why not be honest from the get-go about what you want?!\" he shouted back at me. \" I didn't ask for one! You offered me one, God damn it!\" \"And as for your other points, it is primarily a breath freshener, and maybe you should alert the media about your great tic tac size conspiracy!\" \"I can't believe we're fighting about motherfucking tic tacs!\" I screamed and the two of us glowered each other across my desk for several seconds before smiles slowly appeared on both of our faces. \"Want to have make-up sex?\" he asked. \"Yeah, let's go,\" I said, getting up and heading for the bedroom.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "N.M. Silber"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-container-of-tic-tacs-i-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-container-of-tic-tacs-i-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/013/n-m-silber-25456_fear_there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-c_3032129.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There, I saw Adam messing around with a container of tic tacs. I had found the source of the cinnamon taste…” — N.M. Silber",
                "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": "N.M. Silber",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-silber/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There, I saw Adam messing around...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-container-of-tic-tacs-i-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-silber/there-i-saw-adam-messing-around-with-a-container-of-tic-tacs-i-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
