--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is hopeless, I cannot say it. I give a…" description: "\"“It is hopeless, I cannot say it. I give a little whooping cough and raise my eyes to his face. I cannot help myself, I hate him like an enemy, I canno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/philippa-gregory-674_henry_it-is-hopeless-i-cannot-say-it-i-give-a_2601248.png" --- # It is hopeless, I cannot say it. I give a little whooping… ![“It is hopeless, I cannot say it. I give a little whooping cough and raise my eyes to his face. I cannot help myself, I hate him like an enemy, I cannot stop myself dreaming of his enemy, I cannot say his name, I cannot possibly marry him. But Henry, prosaic and real, understands exactly what is…” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/philippa-gregory-674_henry_it-is-hopeless-i-cannot-say-it-i-give-a_2601248.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/philippa-gregory-674_henry_it-is-hopeless-i-cannot-say-it-i-give-a_2601248.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b30/philippa-gregory-674_henry_it-is-hopeless-i-cannot-say-it-i-give-a_2601248.png) > ““It is hopeless, I cannot say it. I give a little whooping cough and raise my eyes to his face. I cannot help myself, I hate him like an enemy, I cannot stop myself dreaming of his enemy, I cannot say his name, I cannot possibly marry him. But Henry, prosaic and real, understands exactly what is happening, and gives me a sharp corrective pinch with his fingers in the soft palm of my hand. He uses his nails, he digs into my flesh, I yelp at the pain, and his hard brown gaze emerges from the mist and I see his scowl. I snatch at a gasp of air. “Say it!” he mutters furiously. I master myself and say again, correctly this time, “I, Elizabeth, take thee, Henry . . .”” [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman struggles with forbidden love, confronting inner conflict and societal pressure, ultimately forced to voice her vows despite fear. **In simple terms:** A woman battles love and fear, finally speaking her vows. Key Takeaway Face inner turmoil and speak truth despite dread. Themes love conflict societal pressure self‑control Mood dramatic emotional Type literary psychological When to use this quote - arranged marriage - family expectations - personal confession - emotional climax Key Concepts forbidden romance psychological tension personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from speaking your truth? - How does external pressure shape personal decisions? A Different Perspective Fear can silence but also intensify resolve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-say-1643419/) [Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henry/) [Hopeless Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeless-say-1946690/) [Marry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marry-henry-1725283/) [Thee Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee-henry-1946689/) ## Related quotes > [She was a vision in a white gown her dark hair forming a hazy halo around her rosy heart-shaped face. 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But I say unto you, Love your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/ye-have-heard-that-it-hath-been-said-thou-shalt-love-thy-neighbour/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/) > [I'm not a good person to have as an enemy; say nice things about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-dickinson/i-m-not-a-good-person-to-have-as-an-enemy-say-nice-things-about-me/) [Janice Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-dickinson/) > [“And all the time the joke is that the word ‘Mine’ in its fully possessive sense cannot be uttered by a human being about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-all-the-time-the-joke-is-that-the-word-mine-in-its-fully/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“An intelligent enemy,' he would say, stroking his beard as if it were a bristly pet, 'rather than a foolish friend.' 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They don't know if we can fight, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/we-have-women-in-the-military-but-they-don-t-put-us-in-the-front/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [The enemy say that Americans are good at a long shot, but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon you instantly to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfield-scott/the-enemy-say-that-americans-are-good-at-a-long-shot-but-cannot-stand/) [Winfield Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfield-scott/) > [Harrison Ford has always been one of my favorite actors. I grew up with Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and 'Regarding Henry' is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-north/harrison-ford-has-always-been-one-of-my-favorite-actors-i-grew-up/) [Nolan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-north/) ## More by Philippa Gregory > [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“But I warn you that a woman who seeks great power and wealth has to pay a great price, Perhaps you will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/but-i-warn-you-that-a-woman-who-seeks-great-power-and-wealth-has-to/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I raised my hand to wave in case he looked back; but he did not. He rode straight backed, looking forward. He rode like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-raised-my-hand-to-wave-in-case-he-looked-back-but-he-did-not-he/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“When you are still and thoughtful you are as lovely as the statues they are carving in Italy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/when-you-are-still-and-thoughtful-you-are-as-lovely-as-the-statues/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Edward lives as if there is no tomorrow, Richard as if he wants no tomorrow, and George as though someone should give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/edward-lives-as-if-there-is-no-tomorrow-richard-as-if-he-wants-no/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [You can smile when your heart is breaking because you're a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-can-smile-when-your-heart-is-breaking-because-you-re-a-woman/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We fell asleep wrapped in each other as if we could not bear to part, even in sleep we could not bear to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-fell-asleep-wrapped-in-each-other-as-if-we-could-not-bear-to-part/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“One little boy, and he a bastard,' Anne said thoughtfully. 'One little girl of six, one elderly Queen and a King in the prime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/one-little-boy-and-he-a-bastard-anne-said-thoughtfully-one-little/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“We have been married little more than a year and already there is a terrible silence around some subjects. We never speak of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/we-have-been-married-little-more-than-a-year-and-already-there-is-a/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“It doesn’t matter if you call it magic or determination. It doesn’t matter if you make a spell or a plot. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-call-it-magic-or-determination-it-doesn-t/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“You are my heart. Even if you are a broken heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-are-my-heart-even-if-you-are-a-broken-heart/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I have overturned the order. Nothing will ever be the same for any woman in this country again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-have-overturned-the-order-nothing-will-ever-be-the-same-for-any/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“I will make my own future, not predict it. I don’t need a charm to tell me what I hope will happen. I throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-will-make-my-own-future-not-predict-it-i-don-t-need-a-charm-to-tell/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) [Explore all 408 Philippa Gregory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More Henry quotes > [Harrison Ford has always been one of my favorite actors. I grew up with Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and 'Regarding Henry' is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-north/harrison-ford-has-always-been-one-of-my-favorite-actors-i-grew-up/) [Nolan North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-north/) > [Clarence Darrow was a unique and courageous man. Several of my favourite actors have played Darrow... Henry Fonda, Orson Welles and Spencer Tracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/clarence-darrow-was-a-unique-and-courageous-man-several-of-my/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [“PRINCE HENRY   I know you all, and will awhile uphold    The unyoked humour of your idleness.    Yet herein will I imitate the sun,    Who doth permit the base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/prince-henry-i-know-you-all-and-will-awhile-uphold-the-unyoked-humour/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you look in the dictionary under 'perfectionist,' you see Henry Selick correcting the definition of perfectionist in the dictionary. I mean, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/if-you-look-in-the-dictionary-under-perfectionist-you-see-henry/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Whatever part I'm playing, I always carry with me something that's been used by an illustrious predecessor. I'm a great believer in a touching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-sinden/whatever-part-i-m-playing-i-always-carry-with-me-something-that-s/) [Donald Sinden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-sinden/) > [My interior is very, very dense - Proustian-looking, sort of Henry James. The walls are covered in pictures, and I transformed the big drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamish-bowles/my-interior-is-very-very-dense-proustian-looking-sort-of-henry-james/) [Hamish Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamish-bowles/) > [“If you think you can do it, or you think you can’t do it, you are right. Henry Ford”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-smith/if-you-think-you-can-do-it-or-you-think-you-can-t-do-it-you-are-right/) [Julien Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-smith/) > [After I beat Jose Aldo, I was supposed to fight for the belt. After I beat Petr Yan, I was supposed to fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merab-dvalishvili/after-i-beat-jose-aldo-i-was-supposed-to-fight-for-the-belt-after-i/) [Merab Dvalishvili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merab-dvalishvili/) > [In Henry they had a forward so elusive that he was almost unplayable at his peak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-neville/in-henry-they-had-a-forward-so-elusive-that-he-was-almost-unplayable/) [Gary Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-neville/) > [What do you call a co-worker these days? Neither teammate nor confederate will do, and partner is too legalistic. 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I give a little whooping cough and raise my eyes to his face. I cannot help myself, I hate him like an enemy, I cannot stop myself dreaming of his enemy, I cannot say his name, I cannot possibly marry him. But Henry, prosaic and real, understands exactly what is happening, and gives me a sharp corrective pinch with his fingers in the soft palm of my hand. He uses his nails, he digs into my flesh, I yelp at the pain, and his hard brown gaze emerges from the mist and I see his scowl. I snatch at a gasp of air. “Say it!” he mutters furiously. 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