--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...without moving a muscle in his face…" description: "\"“...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away; retreats, I think, to that sheltered place where his stories are kept. Perhaps we all have our pla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/pete-dexter-27769_solitude_without-moving-a-muscle-in-his-face-slip_1078401.jpg" --- # ...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away… ![“...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away; retreats, I think, to that sheltered place where his stories are kept. Perhaps we all have our places.” quote by Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/pete-dexter-27769_solitude_without-moving-a-muscle-in-his-face-slip_1078401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/pete-dexter-27769_solitude_without-moving-a-muscle-in-his-face-slip_1078401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/757/pete-dexter-27769_solitude_without-moving-a-muscle-in-his-face-slip_1078401.jpg) > ““...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away; retreats, I think, to that sheltered place where his stories are kept. Perhaps we all have our places.”” [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person retreats inwardly, keeping stories hidden, suggesting everyone has private inner worlds. **In simple terms:** We all have secret inner places. Key Takeaway Respect personal boundaries. Themes psychology storytelling privacy introspection Mood contemplative intimate Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative writing - conflict resolution Key Concepts inner narrative emotional retreat personal space Questions to Reflect On - What inner places do you keep private? - How can sharing stories foster empathy? A Different Perspective Hidden stories may limit connection if never shared. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [There were stories that kept me awake all night Then you stayed by my side to wash away my fright There were tears that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-were-stories-that-kept-me-awake-all-night-then-you-stayed-by-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People are often dismissive of librarians and libraries - as if the words are synonymous with boredom or timidity. But isn't that where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-picardie/people-are-often-dismissive-of-librarians-and-libraries-as-if-the/) [Justine Picardie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-picardie/) > [“People are often dismissive of librarians and libraries…But isn't that where the best stories are kept? Hidden away on the library bookshelves, lost and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-picardie/people-are-often-dismissive-of-librarians-and-libraries-but-isn-t/) [Justine Picardie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-picardie/) > [All writers must go from now to once a upon a time; all must go from here to there; all must descend to where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/all-writers-must-go-from-now-to-once-a-upon-a-time-all-must-go-from/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“And the weight of the world slips away...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-callahan/and-the-weight-of-the-world-slips-away/) [Bill Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-callahan/) > [Nothing could be closer than the present, yet nothing slips away faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/nothing-could-be-closer-than-the-present-yet-nothing-slips-away-faster/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [ Deliberando saepe perit occasio \[The opportunity often slips away while we deliberate on it\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/deliberando-saepe-perit-occasio-the-opportunity-often-slips-away/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [You think, 'Here's something I can hold on to,' but it always slips away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/you-think-here-s-something-i-can-hold-on-to-but-it-always-slips-away/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [Love is like a bar of soap, once you think you have it, it slips away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reina/love-is-like-a-bar-of-soap-once-you-think-you-have-it-it-slips-away/) [Reina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reina/) > [You think you've found your freedom, but it always slips away. Nothing ever satisfies, you always have to pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kansas/you-think-you-ve-found-your-freedom-but-it-always-slips-away-nothing/) [Kansas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kansas/) > [“Nothing lasts. You think it's going to. You think 'Here's something I can hold on to', but it always slips away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/nothing-lasts-you-think-it-s-going-to-you-think-here-s-something-i/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [That is why I can never walk away from wrestling because there's this moment - the bell rings and everything slips away. The path,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-sydal/that-is-why-i-can-never-walk-away-from-wrestling-because-there-s-this/) [Matt Sydal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-sydal/) > [Love is like a bar of soap; once you think you got it, it slips away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/love-is-like-a-bar-of-soap-once-you-think-you-got-it-it-slips-away/) Unkown > [Love is like a bar of soap. You find that perfect bar but then it slips away from you without you knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-a-bar-of-soap-you-find-that-perfect-bar-but-then-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’s my fault!” And then I cross some line into hysteria and there’s a needle in my arm and the world slips away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-my-fault-and-then-i-cross-some-line-into-hysteria-and-there-s-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Pete Dexter > [“In the beginning the stories were long and colored, but as he grew old and his eyes clouded, the stories were told in only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/in-the-beginning-the-stories-were-long-and-colored-but-as-he-grew-old/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“No one mentions that now, and I suppose no one is inclined to bring it up, particularly not my father, who in other matters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/no-one-mentions-that-now-and-i-suppose-no-one-is-inclined-to-bring-it/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“and low-life cable network producers, who have never had a thought in their heads that did not come from something else they saw on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/and-low-life-cable-network-producers-who-have-never-had-a-thought-in/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [Nothing looks more foolish than tradition to those who have none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/nothing-looks-more-foolish-than-tradition-to-those-who-have-none/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“I had noticed, even then, that there were certain women whom other women instinctively disliked, and that these women invariably had more bait in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/i-had-noticed-even-then-that-there-were-certain-women-whom-other/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“...fill the holes with facts, not flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/fill-the-holes-with-facts-not-flowers/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [And while good books - even so-so books - serve both functions, if you ever have to choose one over the other, keep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/and-while-good-books-even-so-so-books-serve-both-functions-if-you/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“Spooner noticed another, smaller Marine Corps tattoo encircling Marlin's ankle: Semper Fi Forever. Everywhere he went these days, Spponer witnessed America's crying need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/spooner-noticed-another-smaller-marine-corps-tattoo-encircling-marlin/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“All in all, he felt more milked than loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/all-in-all-he-felt-more-milked-than-loved/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [There is a fine line between stubborn and stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/there-is-a-fine-line-between-stubborn-and-stupid/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“A newspaper story, like anything else, is more attractive from a distance, when it first comes to you, than it is when you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/a-newspaper-story-like-anything-else-is-more-attractive-from-a/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“I was tired in ways that had nothing to do with sleep. It occurred to me, sitting in the car with her, that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/i-was-tired-in-ways-that-had-nothing-to-do-with-sleep-it-occurred-to/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“And the justice in this world is that you don’t have to break legs because somebody’s broken yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/and-the-justice-in-this-world-is-that-you-don-t-have-to-break-legs/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“To see certain things, you have to be lying on your back with tears in your eyes and a scalding potato in your mouth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/to-see-certain-things-you-have-to-be-lying-on-your-back-with-tears-in/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) > [“Not for the first time Spooner was reminded that marriage was not the straighforward assembly the instruction book led you to believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dexter/not-for-the-first-time-spooner-was-reminded-that-marriage-was-not-the/) [Pete Dexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) [Explore all 20 Pete Dexter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dexter/) ## More Solitude quotes > [“Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/truth-is-i-m-generally-happiest-when-it-s-just-me-it-s-okay-to-be/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“I still love to love my friends, but I punctuate those moments with solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-klein/i-still-love-to-love-my-friends-but-i-punctuate-those-moments-with/) [Stephanie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-klein/) > [You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/you-will-not-find-a-soulmate-in-the-quiet-of-your-room-you-must-go-to/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“Point is, that’s when I really realized that I don’t think like most people. I’m fine with solitude. In fact, I get antsy when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-e-taylor/point-is-that-s-when-i-really-realized-that-i-don-t-think-like-most/) [Dennis E. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-e-taylor/) > [By all means use some time to be alone, salute thyself, see what thy soul doth wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/by-all-means-use-some-time-to-be-alone-salute-thyself-see-what-thy/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“...the solitude was intoxicating. On my first night there I lay on my back on the sticky carpet for hours, in the murky orange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/the-solitude-was-intoxicating-on-my-first-night-there-i-lay-on-my/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“The journey towards your inner self is Solitude!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farheen-viquas/the-journey-towards-your-inner-self-is-solitude/) Farheen Viquas > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [“Well…there’s only one glove. Right away, I wonder, where’s the other glove? How did it become separated from its mate? Does it feel lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-kage/well-there-s-only-one-glove-right-away-i-wonder-where-s-the-other/) [Linda Kage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-kage/) > [“Seclusion wasn't good for anyone; it made you forget how to protect yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-james/seclusion-wasn-t-good-for-anyone-it-made-you-forget-how-to-protect/) [Heather James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-james/) > [I cannot keep quiet even when I am a lone voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-cannot-keep-quiet-even-when-i-am-a-lone-voice/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) [Browse all 4,219 Solitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...without moving a muscle in his face, slips away; retreats, I think, to that sheltered place where his stories are kept. 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