--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He fumbled around with his eyes closed…" description: "\"“He fumbled around with his eyes closed. He groped about, reaching for the comfortable and familiar shaft of his hammer.”\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/neil-gaiman-29_hammer_he-fumbled-around-with-his-eyes-closed-h_2679717.jpg" --- # He fumbled around with his eyes closed. He groped about… ![“He fumbled around with his eyes closed. He groped about, reaching for the comfortable and familiar shaft of his hammer.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/neil-gaiman-29_hammer_he-fumbled-around-with-his-eyes-closed-h_2679717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/neil-gaiman-29_hammer_he-fumbled-around-with-his-eyes-closed-h_2679717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/849/neil-gaiman-29_hammer_he-fumbled-around-with-his-eyes-closed-h_2679717.jpg) > ““He fumbled around with his eyes closed. He groped about, reaching for the comfortable and familiar shaft of his hammer.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When lost, we instinctively seek familiar tools, even blindly, reflecting fear and the need for comfort. **In simple terms:** In uncertainty, we grasp for known comforts. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty, seek new tools. Themes fear comfort uncertainty search Mood introspective hopeful Type psychological literary When to use this quote - career change - creative projects - personal crises Key Concepts psychology of coping symbolic objects Questions to Reflect On - What familiar 'hammers' hold you back? - How can you find comfort without losing adaptability? A Different Perspective Blind reliance can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Closed Groped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closed-groped-2570508/) [Eyes Closed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-closed/) [Groped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groped-1843334/) [Groped Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groped-reaching-2570509/) [Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammer/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [“He groped for and cupped her hot little slew from behind, then frantically scrambled into a boy's sandcastle- molding position; but she turned over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabokov/he-groped-for-and-cupped-her-hot-little-slew-from-behind-then/) [Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabokov/) > [“We still groped for each other on the backstairs or in parked cars as the road around us grew glossy with ice and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/we-still-groped-for-each-other-on-the-backstairs-or-in-parked-cars-as/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [Now, they're saying I groped a male staffer. Yes, I did. Not only did I grope him, I tickled him until he couldn't breathe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-massa/now-they-re-saying-i-groped-a-male-staffer-yes-i-did-not-only-did-i/) [Eric Massa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-massa/) > [Six women have come forward that say Arnold Schwarzenegger groped them without their consent. This proves he would be a hands-on governor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/six-women-have-come-forward-that-say-arnold-schwarzenegger-groped/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“...Oh, and he groped your face. Sounds like true love to me.' 'He didn't grope my face. We were talking. And he also bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scott/oh-and-he-groped-your-face-sounds-like-true-love-to-me-he-didn-t/) [Elizabeth Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scott/) > [“Here.” He spread his legs wider and patted the floor between them. “You’ll be warmer, and I promise I won’t grope you or anything.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-maguire/here-he-spread-his-legs-wider-and-patted-the-floor-between-them-you/) [Meg Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-maguire/) > [“Keep your hands to yourself, Perez.” Gray nearly laughed. After being groped all day by Blake, Raj was telling her to keep her hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-jefford/keep-your-hands-to-yourself-perez-gray-nearly-laughed-after-being/) [Nikki Jefford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-jefford/) > [I was once very unpleasantly groped while I was broadcasting by a famous individual who shall remain nameless. When I told the staff afterwards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-was-once-very-unpleasantly-groped-while-i-was-broadcasting-by-a/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [“His mouth flopped opened and closed in disbelief. She had pinched his ass; this sweet, innocent-looking old lady had groped him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/his-mouth-flopped-opened-and-closed-in-disbelief-she-had-pinched-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You even think about biting my ass woman and I will make yours shine like Rudolf’s fucking nose.” Laughing, she playfully swatted his ass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devona-serenity/you-even-think-about-biting-my-ass-woman-and-i-will-make-yours-shine/) [Devona Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devona-serenity/) > [“He kept touching my thigh and he couldn't keep his eyes off my crotch. My cock was terrified it was going to be groped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabian-black/he-kept-touching-my-thigh-and-he-couldn-t-keep-his-eyes-off-my-crotch/) [Fabian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabian-black/) > [It can be the level of sexual assault is relatively low. What was described on the plane by Ms. Leeds, it would very likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/it-can-be-the-level-of-sexual-assault-is-relatively-low-what-was/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [It's one thing to be groped and harassed by passers-by, but when the state gropes you, it gives a green light that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/it-s-one-thing-to-be-groped-and-harassed-by-passers-by-but-when-the/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [“Gray nearly laughed. After being groped all day by Blake, Raj was telling her to keep her hands to herself? “What’s the deal, McKenna?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-jefford/gray-nearly-laughed-after-being-groped-all-day-by-blake-raj-was/) [Nikki Jefford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-jefford/) > [She groped forward, hands and feet, in search of darkness, distance and solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-groped-forward-hands-and-feet-in-search-of-darkness-distance-and/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Hammer quotes > [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. You cannot make a spoon that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-book-is-like-the-spoon-scissors-the-hammer-the-wheel-once/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My first bit of gear was a Roland JV-1010 sound module. I used to hammer the hell out of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/my-first-bit-of-gear-was-a-roland-jv-1010-sound-module-i-used-to/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) > [Fighting fire with fire is like trying to knock down a building with a hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-hayward/fighting-fire-with-fire-is-like-trying-to-knock-down-a-building-with/) [Courtney Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-hayward/) > [I believe that inside every tool is a hammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/i-believe-that-inside-every-tool-is-a-hammer/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/art-is-not-a-mirror-held-up-to-reality-but-a-hammer-with-which-to/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“There are some who say that Time is itself a hammer; that each slow second marks another tap that makes big rocks into little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/there-are-some-who-say-that-time-is-itself-a-hammer-that-each-slow/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [Give a small boy a hammer and he will find that everything he encounters needs pounding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kaplan/give-a-small-boy-a-hammer-and-he-will-find-that-everything-he/) [Abraham Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kaplan/) > [As a technology, the book is like a hammer. That is to say, it is perfect: a tool ideally suited to its task. Hammers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/as-a-technology-the-book-is-like-a-hammer-that-is-to-say-it-is/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/and-you-will-believe-in-love-and-all-that-it-s-supposed-to-be-but/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [There ought to be a man with a hammer behind the door of every happy man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-ought-to-be-a-man-with-a-hammer-behind-the-door-of-every-happy/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [You cannot dream yourself into a character, you must hammer and forge yourself once...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja/you-cannot-dream-yourself-into-a-character-you-must-hammer-and-forge/) [Pooja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja/) > [Art is not a mirror but a hammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grierson/art-is-not-a-mirror-but-a-hammer/) [John Grierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grierson/) > [If my only tool is a hammer, then every problem is a nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholem-asch/if-my-only-tool-is-a-hammer-then-every-problem-is-a-nail/) [Sholem Asch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholem-asch/) > [I work very hard to line up stereotypes and then smash them with a hammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-work-very-hard-to-line-up-stereotypes-and-then-smash-them-with-a/) [Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/) [Browse all 281 Hammer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hammer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He fumbled around with his eyes closed. 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