--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he…" description: "\"Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that if the first tear fell, he would break and carry her off anywhere she wanted to go.\" — Nora R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg" --- # Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that… ![“Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that if the first tear fell, he would break and carry her off anywhere she wanted to go.” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg) > “Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that if the first tear fell, he would break and carry her off anywhere she wanted to go.” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tender fear that vulnerability will cause loss, yet the desire to protect and carry the beloved wherever they go. **In simple terms:** Protective love and fear of loss Key Takeaway Love feels fragile yet compelling Themes love vulnerability protection fear attachment Mood tender protective Type romantic excerpt emotional narrative When to use this quote - describing a romance - explaining a character’s motivation - writing a love scene Key Concepts emotional fragility protective instinct Practical Applications - romance novel dialogue - relationship counseling Questions to Reflect On - What makes love feel both fragile and powerful? - How does fear shape protective actions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [“She drew back from his embrace so she could look into his eyes, her own swimming with tears. The uncertainty in her face nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mayberry/she-drew-back-from-his-embrace-so-she-could-look-into-his-eyes-her/) [Sarah Mayberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mayberry/) > [One tear fell down my eye when I thought about the way u made me cry because to know that u were sad or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/one-tear-fell-down-my-eye-when-i-thought-about-the-way-u-made-me-cry/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [“Bridges burned and pages turned with every tear that fell from my eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-george/bridges-burned-and-pages-turned-with-every-tear-that-fell-from-my-eyes/) [Abigail George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-george/) > [“Beth's fingers trembled in his hair, and her forehead dropped against his. A heavy, wet tear fell onto Lincoln's lips, and he licked it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/beth-s-fingers-trembled-in-his-hair-and-her-forehead-dropped-against/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“It was the simplest of acts, the smallest of gestures, yet no one had taken the time to do something kind for her in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-thorne-grey/it-was-the-simplest-of-acts-the-smallest-of-gestures-yet-no-one-had/) [Madison Thorne Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-thorne-grey/) > [“As her thumb slowly rubbed back and forth, my heart cracked open and I did something I hadn’t done since my mother died—I cried.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-schlosser/as-her-thumb-slowly-rubbed-back-and-forth-my-heart-cracked-open-and-i/) [Jamie Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-schlosser/) > [If a tear fell from my eye every time I wished you were with me, I would have a puddle of dead wishes lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/if-a-tear-fell-from-my-eye-every-time-i-wished-you-were-with-me-i/) Cuts And Scars > [“What if I don’t choose you, Kellan? What will you do?” He looked away, a tear rolling down his cheek. “I’ll leave, Kiera. I’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/what-if-i-don-t-choose-you-kellan-what-will-you-do-he-looked-away-a/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [Never did anybody look so sad. Bitter and black, halfway down, in the darkness, in the shaft which ran from the sunlight to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/never-did-anybody-look-so-sad-bitter-and-black-halfway-down-in-the/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [When you accused me of not loving you, a silent tear fell from my eyes, the pain was too much I cant help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edchelyn/when-you-accused-me-of-not-loving-you-a-silent-tear-fell-from-my-eyes/) Edchelyn > [If a tear fell from my eyes each time I thought of you, I would have a puddle of fallen wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah/if-a-tear-fell-from-my-eyes-each-time-i-thought-of-you-i-would-have-a/) [Sarah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah/) > [“He was doing what he had always promised her he would do, he was taking care of her . He was taking it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/he-was-doing-what-he-had-always-promised-her-he-would-do-he-was/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [A tear fell from my father's eye. I wondered what my dad would say. He said, "I love you and I'm proud of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-avett-brothers/a-tear-fell-from-my-father-s-eye-i-wondered-what-my-dad-would-say-he/) [The Avett Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-avett-brothers/) > [“If a tear fell from my eyes, Each time I wished you were with me, I would have an ocean shore outside my door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-chillemi/if-a-tear-fell-from-my-eyes-each-time-i-wished-you-were-with-me-i/) [Stacey Chillemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-chillemi/) > [If a tear fell from my eye everytime I wished you were with me, I would have a puddle of dead wishes lying at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-a-tear-fell-from-my-eye-everytime-i-wished-you-were-with-me-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. Of course, she didn't have the answer until she spoke to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-s-back-in-maine-now-she-did-say-he-badgered-her-with-questions-of/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Every professor worth his PhD should have a fireplace in his study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/every-professor-worth-his-phd-should-have-a-fireplace-in-his-study/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry, bad wing." When Theo kissed him, surprise and pleasure flustered him. He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There was a boy down at the stables." She laughed suddenly with her back comfortably nestled against Grant's chest. "Oh,Lord,he was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/there-was-a-boy-down-at-the-stables-she-laughed-suddenly-with-her/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Some people refuse to take the next step. You could refuse to take what you wanted most, because you're afraid someday you might lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-people-refuse-to-take-the-next-step-you-could-refuse-to-take/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) [Explore all 1,138 Nora Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that if the first tear fell, he would break and carry her off anywhere she wanted to go.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nora Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he-was-afraid-that-if-the-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he-was-afraid-that-if-the-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/nora-roberts-128_bigs_those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he_96717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those big blue eyes were swimming, and he was afraid that if the first tear fell, he would break and carry…” — Nora Roberts", "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": "Nora Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those big blue eyes were swimming,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he-was-afraid-that-if-the-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/those-big-blue-eyes-were-swimming-and-he-was-afraid-that-if-the-first/#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 } } ] } ```