--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If she had touched me,\" he said very…" description: "\"If she had touched me,\" he said very softly, \"I would have been hers and not my own, not ever again. I wanted her to touch me but I could not let her. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/peter-s-beagle-1665_calm_if-she-had-touched-me-he-said-very-softl_2887445.png" --- # If she had touched me," he said very softly, "I would have… ![“If she had touched me," he said very softly, "I would have been hers and not my own, not ever again. I wanted her to touch me but I could not let her. No cat will. We let human beings caress us because it is pleasant enough and calms them - but not her. The price is more than a cat can pay.” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/peter-s-beagle-1665_calm_if-she-had-touched-me-he-said-very-softl_2887445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/peter-s-beagle-1665_calm_if-she-had-touched-me-he-said-very-softl_2887445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/peter-s-beagle-1665_calm_if-she-had-touched-me-he-said-very-softl_2887445.png) > “If she had touched me," he said very softly, "I would have been hers and not my own, not ever again. I wanted her to touch me but I could not let her. No cat will. We let human beings caress us because it is pleasant enough and calms them - but not her. The price is more than a cat can pay.” [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a yearning for intimate connection that is withheld, comparing human and animal affection, highlighting the cost of unreciprocated love. **In simple terms:** Unmet desire feels more costly than a pet's love. Key Takeaway Seek mutual, respectful intimacy. Themes loneliness desire human connection boundaries Mood melancholic introspective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationships - self‑care - boundary setting Key Concepts unrequited love emotional cost personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from allowing intimacy? - How do you balance desire and self‑respect? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beings Caress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-caress-4036505/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Caress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caress/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pleasant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasant/) [Price Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/price-cat-4036504/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Touch me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-me/) [Touched Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touched-said-379895/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-touch-1144371/) ## Related quotes > [Mom: If a boy touches your boobs say don't and if he touches your pussy say stop? Girl: But mom, he touched both so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/mom-if-a-boy-touches-your-boobs-say-don-t-and-if-he-touches-your/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [Grandfather's been dead all these years, but if you lifted my skull, by God, in the convolutions of my brain you'd find the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/grandfather-s-been-dead-all-these-years-but-if-you-lifted-my-skull-by/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I touched an Oscar once. Friend of mine has one, for writing. As soon as I touched it, he said, Now you'll never win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/i-touched-an-oscar-once-friend-of-mine-has-one-for-writing-as-soon-as/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [“What it lacks in pizzaz, it makes up for in practicality,” I said, hoping Aislinn couldn’t hear how terrified I was. But she put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/what-it-lacks-in-pizzaz-it-makes-up-for-in-practicality-i-said-hoping/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“How did Terrible Teddy’s face get like that?” “Me.” “You hit him?” “He touched you, you said it hurt. I found him and beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/how-did-terrible-teddy-s-face-get-like-that-me-you-hit-him-he-touched/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“She wanted the touch of his mouth on hers so much that she was willing to take the hurt with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/she-wanted-the-touch-of-his-mouth-on-hers-so-much-that-she-was/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [Nobody wanted to touch Decline III when they found out what it was about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-spheeris/nobody-wanted-to-touch-decline-iii-when-they-found-out-what-it-was/) [Penelope Spheeris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-spheeris/) > [We wanted to touch them with our action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-sellecca/we-wanted-to-touch-them-with-our-action/) [Connie Sellecca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-sellecca/) > [“Last week you looked at me with love. You wanted to touch me. Last week I was happy. Now? Who are you? I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-palmieri/last-week-you-looked-at-me-with-love-you-wanted-to-touch-me-last-week/) [Suzanne Palmieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-palmieri/) > [“For so long she'd wanted to touch this work of art that was this boy, this too beautiful to be real creation, and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlee-nicole-bye/for-so-long-she-d-wanted-to-touch-this-work-of-art-that-was-this-boy/) [Ashlee Nicole Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlee-nicole-bye/) > [“Just Michael, how grateful I was that he was alive, how much I wanted to touch him. How much I wanted him to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/just-michael-how-grateful-i-was-that-he-was-alive-how-much-i-wanted/) [Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/) > [“He burned,his body drawn bow-taut. If he did not sheathe himself soon within his wife's silken depths... She looked at him directly, her eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/he-burned-his-body-drawn-bow-taut-if-he-did-not-sheathe-himself-soon/) [Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/) > [I wanted to see you again, touch you, know who you were, see if I would find you identical with the ideal image of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-wanted-to-see-you-again-touch-you-know-who-you-were-see-if-i-would/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Her fingers gripped my back. I knew that there would be marks, but I didn’t care. She could leave her mark. I wanted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-moen/her-fingers-gripped-my-back-i-knew-that-there-would-be-marks-but-i/) [Jenni Moen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-moen/) ## More by Peter S. Beagle > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Farewell,' she said. 'I hope you hear many more songs' - which was the best way she could think of to say good-bye to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/farewell-she-said-i-hope-you-hear-many-more-songs-which-was-the-best/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [He is a great enough magician to tap our most common nightmares, daydreams and twilight fancies, but he never invented them either: he found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/he-is-a-great-enough-magician-to-tap-our-most-common-nightmares/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [...no place is more enchanted than where a unicorn has been born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/no-place-is-more-enchanted-than-where-a-unicorn-has-been-born/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“...and it's not my place to chase around after you, fixing stuff. What I know's what I know, and it don't include putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/and-it-s-not-my-place-to-chase-around-after-you-fixing-stuff-what-i/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The most professional curse ever snarled or croaked or thundered can have no effect on a pure heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-most-professional-curse-ever-snarled-or-croaked-or-thundered-can/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“The baloney weighed the raven down, and the shopkeeper almost caught him as he whisked out the delicatessen door.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-baloney-weighed-the-raven-down-and-the-shopkeeper-almost-caught/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Men have to have heroes, but no man can ever be as big as the need, and so a legend grows around a grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/men-have-to-have-heroes-but-no-man-can-ever-be-as-big-as-the-need-and/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [A Clock is not time; it's numbers and springs. Pay it no mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/a-clock-is-not-time-it-s-numbers-and-springs-pay-it-no-mind/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/heroes-know-that-things-must-happen-when-it-is-time-for-them-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-wriggled-all-over-like-a-dog/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Where have you been?" she cried. "Damn you, where have you been?" She took a few steps toward Schmendrick, but she was looking beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/where-have-you-been-she-cried-damn-you-where-have-you-been-she-took-a/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [Unicorns are not to be forgiven." The magician felt himself growing giddy with jealousy, not only of the touch but of something like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/unicorns-are-not-to-be-forgiven-the-magician-felt-himself-growing/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [The magician stood erect, menacing the attackers with demons, metamorphoses, paralyzing ailments, and secret judo holds. Molly picked up a rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/the-magician-stood-erect-menacing-the-attackers-with-demons/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [You pile of stones, you waste, you desolation, I'll stuff you with misery till it comes out of your eyes. I'll change your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/you-pile-of-stones-you-waste-you-desolation-i-ll-stuff-you-with/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) [Explore all 218 Peter S. Beagle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) [Michael Ben-Ari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ben-ari/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. 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With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If she had touched me,\" he said very softly, \"I would have been hers and not my own, not ever again. I wanted her to touch me but I could not let her. No cat will. We let human beings caress us because it is pleasant enough and calms them - but not her. 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