--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What do you think was the only thing that…" description: "\"“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain, I reached for you. I never sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/penelope-douglas-2563_breathing_what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-tha_222261.png" --- # What do you think was the only thing that made me keep… ![“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain, I reached for you. I never stopped reaching for you.” quote by Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/penelope-douglas-2563_breathing_what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-tha_222261.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/penelope-douglas-2563_breathing_what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-tha_222261.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/penelope-douglas-2563_breathing_what-do-you-think-was-the-only-thing-tha_222261.png) > ““What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain, I reached for you. I never stopped reaching for you.”” [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator expresses that love and connection are vital reasons for survival, driving them forward. **In simple terms:** Love gives purpose to keep living. Key Takeaway Cherish relationships for motivation. Themes love survival motivation relationships resilience Mood emotional intimate Type romantic inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - romantic relationships - mental health - support networks Key Concepts Attachment theory psychology human need Questions to Reflect On - What other forces can sustain life? - How does love influence resilience? A Different Perspective May romanticize love as sole survival factor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nightfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightfall/) [Penelope-douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penelope-douglas/) ## Related quotes > [“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-people-will-eat-anything/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You and me against the world,” he whispered, picking up speed and going harder. “Always,” I said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-and-me-against-the-world-he-whispered-picking-up-speed-and-going/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“People hide in the dark. They quench their thirsts in the dark. They build their secrets in the dark. We’re more ourselves here than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/people-hide-in-the-dark-they-quench-their-thirsts-in-the-dark-they/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I think I need a bigger mouth. More alcohol would fit in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-think-i-need-a-bigger-mouth-more-alcohol-would-fit-in-it/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I reached in and pulled out a black one to match his white one instead, both with a thick red stripe down the left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-reached-in-and-pulled-out-a-black-one-to-match-his-white-one/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Because he’s the one pure, beautiful thing untainted by ugliness,” he repeated his same words from the shower. “And we love him for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/because-he-s-the-one-pure-beautiful-thing-untainted-by-ugliness-he/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I build with you now,” he whispered to me, the heat of his mouth on my lips. “We make Thunder Bay together, Em. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-build-with-you-now-he-whispered-to-me-the-heat-of-his-mouth-on-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“The last line of the confession read ‘We want what we want.’” I turned my eyes on him as sweat cooled my pores.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/the-last-line-of-the-confession-read-we-want-what-we-want-i-turned-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You either have my back…” “You’re at my side…” “Or you’re in my way...” “Be Lilith, Never Eve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-either-have-my-back-you-re-at-my-side-or-you-re-in-my-way-be/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“He clenched his jaw and forced himself to even his tone. "No' necessarily. It's just that you'll be doing it three or four times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/he-clenched-his-jaw-and-forced-himself-to-even-his-tone-no/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“He's not dead, Parker." He clenched his jaw so hard she could see the muscles working in it. "Are you just saying that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-forbeck/he-s-not-dead-parker-he-clenched-his-jaw-so-hard-she-could-see-the/) [Matt Forbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-forbeck/) > [“I clenched my jaw as hard as I could. It wasn't much of a stretch to keep pretending to be angry, but I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-clenched-my-jaw-as-hard-as-i-could-it-wasn-t-much-of-a-stretch-to/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“So you had to piss me off badly enough activate some primal instinct?” I clenched my jaw, grinding my teeth. “I think all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-a-george/so-you-had-to-piss-me-off-badly-enough-activate-some-primal-instinct/) [M.A. George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-a-george/) > [“Like an injection in the arm it shot into his bloodstream immediately killing off the sleepy, weak, and powerless dullness of the alcohol infused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-fitzgerald/like-an-injection-in-the-arm-it-shot-into-his-bloodstream-immediately/) [Connor Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-fitzgerald/) ## More by Penelope Douglas > [“Madoc was always calm, after all. So calm all the damn time growing up. He didn’t shout or show his anger until he’d had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/madoc-was-always-calm-after-all-so-calm-all-the-damn-time-growing-up/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Tal vez había consecuencias que no deberíamos tener que aceptar, pero no obstante existían.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/tal-vez-hab-a-consecuencias-que-no-deber-amos-tener-que-aceptar-pero/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I want to touch you,” I whispered against her lips. “I want to feel what’s mine. What’s always been mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-want-to-touch-you-i-whispered-against-her-lips-i-want-to-feel-what/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You just think I’m cool, because I have all of the seasons of Vampire Diaries on DVD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-just-think-i-m-cool-because-i-have-all-of-the-seasons-of-vampire/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“For all intents and purposes, he was a fun guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/for-all-intents-and-purposes-he-was-a-fun-guy/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“La parte más difícil es saltar. No puedo retroceder y no puedo seguir tratando de complacer al mundo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/la-parte-m-s-dif-cil-es-saltar-no-puedo-retroceder-y-no-puedo-seguir/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I held Madoc by the inside of his elbow and held Jerod closer to me by the bicep. While a month ago I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-held-madoc-by-the-inside-of-his-elbow-and-held-jerod-closer-to-me/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Abuse can feel like love. Why?' Starving people will eat anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/abuse-can-feel-like-love-why-starving-people-will-eat-anything/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“yesterday lasts forever. tomorrow never comes. until you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/yesterday-lasts-forever-tomorrow-never-comes-until-you/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“We’re only ever good, because there are consequences,” I told her. “Take those away, and everyone shows their true self. Kind of like taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/we-re-only-ever-good-because-there-are-consequences-i-told-her-take/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You either have my back…” “You’re at my side…” “Or you’re in my way...” “Be Lilith, Never Eve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-either-have-my-back-you-re-at-my-side-or-you-re-in-my-way-be/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Are you mine?” I asked as I wiped my tears. He kissed the corners of my mouth softly, and I felt heat rise up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/are-you-mine-i-asked-as-i-wiped-my-tears-he-kissed-the-corners-of-my/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/you-ve-always-wanted-me-you-know-why-because-i-don-t-try-to-kill-your/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“I'll have you in tears in no time." His tone was calm and decisive. I believe every word. Taking a long breath, my eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/i-ll-have-you-in-tears-in-no-time-his-tone-was-calm-and-decisive-i/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) [Explore all 149 Penelope Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What do you think was the only thing that made me keep breathing?” My tone hardened as I clenched my jaw. “In my brain, I reached for you. 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