--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You got used to running things on your…" description: "\"You got used to running things on your own.\" \"What could he do about it when he's in Iraq and the car breaks down in Kansas?\" Beckett gave her a long, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg" --- # You got used to running things on your own." "What could… ![“You got used to running things on your own." "What could he do about it when he's in Iraq and the car breaks down in Kansas?" Beckett gave her a long, quiet look. "I'm not in Iraq." "No, and it has to be said, I'm not in Kansas anymore." She lifted her hands, then let them fall. "It's not that…” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg) > “You got used to running things on your own." "What could he do about it when he's in Iraq and the car breaks down in Kansas?" Beckett gave her a long, quiet look. "I'm not in Iraq." "No, and it has to be said, I'm not in Kansas anymore." She lifted her hands, then let them fall. "It's not that I've forgotten how to be a couple, but that my experience in being part of one is different from yours. Maybe from most people's. And I've been on my own a long time." "Now you're not. I'm not fighting a war, and I'm right here." Needed to be here, he realized, with her.” [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. The speaker reflects on personal independence and the difficulty of merging separate life experiences into a shared partnership. **In simple terms:** Being independent can make intimacy challenging. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect each other's histories. Themes relationships independence communication identity intimacy Mood reflective hopeful Type advice conversational When to use this quote - dating - long‑term partnership - conflict resolution Key Concepts self-reliance emotional labor compatibility Questions to Reflect On - How can partners honor past independence while building a shared future? - What small steps can bridge differing life experiences? A Different Perspective Differences may persist despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beckett/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Breaking down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-down/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Couple Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple-experience-1481087/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Experience Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-different/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Got Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-used-1173738/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kansas/) [Kansas Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kansas-beckett-2247707/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-kansas-2247706/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“For crying out loud, Baker, what rock have you been living under? Oh, yeah, you're from Kansas." He said it as if Kansas were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-vanderpool/for-crying-out-loud-baker-what-rock-have-you-been-living-under-oh/) [Clare Vanderpool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-vanderpool/) > [It's very easy for a couple to experience joy together. But when you experience pain together, it can lead to such depth and such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/it-s-very-easy-for-a-couple-to-experience-joy-together-but-when-you/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“Ryder - the oldest, Avery continued. He's standing as job boss on this project. Owen's the detail guy, runs the numbers, makes the calls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/ryder-the-oldest-avery-continued-he-s-standing-as-job-boss-on-this/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Beckett, don't make me ask you to come upstairs and check in the closets. She laid her hands on his cheeks. Just come upstairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/beckett-don-t-make-me-ask-you-to-come-upstairs-and-check-in-the/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [That's the thing that has suffered, because I got used to putting so much of my energy into the show and my other businesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandi-burruss/that-s-the-thing-that-has-suffered-because-i-got-used-to-putting-so/) [Kandi Burruss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandi-burruss/) > [It hurts, when I let u go...I guess I got used to being loved by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-hurts-when-i-let-u-go-i-guess-i-got-used-to-being-loved-by-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That was the thing. You never got used to it, the idea of someone being gone. Just when you think its reconciled, accepted, someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen-2/that-was-the-thing-you-never-got-used-to-it-the-idea-of-someone-being/) [â Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen-2/) > [Need to find myself all that I've got left used up ooh I'm used up. Need to cry but still got to show my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-grant/need-to-find-myself-all-that-i-ve-got-left-used-up-ooh-i-m-used-up/) [Eddy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-grant/) > [ It's weird. I guess I got so used to \[g-strings\] when I was really young that I just couldn't stand it anymore. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/it-s-weird-i-guess-i-got-so-used-to-g-strings-when-i-was-really-young/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [I had the feeling Edward wasn't the kind of person anyone got used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-had-the-feeling-edward-wasn-t-the-kind-of-person-anyone-got-used-to/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“I got used to it, in a way, being this sack of skin full of problems, because having a body doesn't give you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/i-got-used-to-it-in-a-way-being-this-sack-of-skin-full-of-problems/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [“...unhappiness was something you got used to or something that passed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalene-matthee/unhappiness-was-something-you-got-used-to-or-something-that-passed/) [Dalene Matthee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalene-matthee/) > [“You could get used to anything. You got used to it and then time raced by, and before you knew it, time was up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-could-get-used-to-anything-you-got-used-to-it-and-then-time-raced/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I've come from the bottom, I've got used to working with what I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quique-setien/i-ve-come-from-the-bottom-i-ve-got-used-to-working-with-what-i-have/) [Quique Setien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quique-setien/) > [Because I was independent for such a long time, and I was always just feeding my fans - every month, I'd be giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tink/because-i-was-independent-for-such-a-long-time-and-i-was-always-just/) [Tink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tink/) ## 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 Beckett quotes > [ I would say recently I've gotten back to perusing \[Samuel\] Beckett's novels. Listening to the way Donald Trump speaks without saying anything has made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-would-say-recently-i-ve-gotten-back-to-perusing-samuel-beckett-s/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [It is useless not to seek, not to want, for when you cease to seek you start to find, and when you cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-is-useless-not-to-seek-not-to-want-for-when-you-cease-to-seek-you/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Je suis comme ça. Ou j'oublie tout de suite ou je n'oublie jamais." Samuel BECKETT, En attendant Godot I'm like that. Either I forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/je-suis-comme-a-ou-j-oublie-tout-de-suite-ou-je-n-oublie-jamais/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [In Kamby Bolongo Mean River damage and delusion walk hand in hand, and everything we think we know is gradually called into question. Reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/in-kamby-bolongo-mean-river-damage-and-delusion-walk-hand-in-hand-and/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [“I can’t do this anymore if it’s not with you. Fuck me straight to hell." ~Eve to Beckett”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-can-t-do-this-anymore-if-it-s-not-with-you-fuck-me-straight-to-hell/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett now got half the beating he used to get. Rick didn’t know that with every punch he was pounding his own coffin closed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-now-got-half-the-beating-he-used-to-get-rick-didn-t-know-that/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Beckett held his arms open for Kyle and gave her a gentle hug. “Good on you, Fairy Princess, making an honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/where-s-the-bride-to-be-beckett-held-his-arms-open-for-kyle-and-gave/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett kissed each woman’s cheek and said, “Ladies, I was saying thank you for taking such beautiful care of my brother. You’re angels. Selfless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-kissed-each-woman-s-cheek-and-said-ladies-i-was-saying-thank/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“But he did see them dance. He laughed out loud remembering when he’d danced with Kyle. She hardly seemed the same person. And Cole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-he-did-see-them-dance-he-laughed-out-loud-remembering-when-he-d/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Kyle’s shrill voice interrupted their moment. “Figured you two would turn this into a scout meeting. Will you get your asses up here? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/kyle-s-shrill-voice-interrupted-their-moment-figured-you-two-would/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“I think it's in Malone Dies that Beckett's creature is in a kind of prison or hospital. As I recall, he is visited twice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stern/i-think-it-s-in-malone-dies-that-beckett-s-creature-is-in-a-kind-of/) [Gerald Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stern/) > [Read the great stuff, but read the stuff that isn't so great, too. Great stuff is very discouraging. If you read only Beckett and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/read-the-great-stuff-but-read-the-stuff-that-isn-t-so-great-too-great/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [My exposure to Beckett and to late O'Neill was probably important right at the time I gave up poetry and the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/my-exposure-to-beckett-and-to-late-o-neill-was-probably-important/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Beckett's 'Stories and Texts for Nothing' is probably my favorite book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/beckett-s-stories-and-texts-for-nothing-is-probably-my-favorite-book/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) [Browse all 193 Beckett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beckett/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You got used to running things on your own.\" \"What could he do about it when he's in Iraq and the car breaks down in Kansas?\" Beckett gave her a long, quiet look. \"I'm not in Iraq.\" \"No, and it has to be said, I'm not in Kansas anymore.\" She lifted her hands, then let them fall. \"It's not that I've forgotten how to be a couple, but that my experience in being part of one is different from yours. Maybe from most people's. And I've been on my own a long time.\" \"Now you're not. I'm not fighting a war, and I'm right here.\" Needed to be here, he realized, with her.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nora Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-own-what-could-he-do-about-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beckett" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-own-what-could-he-do-about-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/nora-roberts-128_beckett_you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-o_1827592.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You got used to running things on your own.\" \"What could he do about it when he's in Iraq and the car breaks…” — 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": "You got used to running things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-own-what-could-he-do-about-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-got-used-to-running-things-on-your-own-what-could-he-do-about-it/#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 } } ] } ```