---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that matters is that I'm…"
description: "\"“The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to him, that I'm holding on to him 'outside'.”\" — Philippe Besson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg"
---

#  The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to…

![“The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to him, that I'm holding on to him 'outside'.” quote by Philippe Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg)

> ““The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to him, that I'm holding on to him 'outside'.””

[Philippe Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-besson/)

## 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 emphasizes the importance of holding onto a beloved person, even when circumstances are challenging.

**In simple terms:** Holding onto love is essential despite obstacles.

Key Takeaway

Value and protect meaningful relationships.

Themes

love attachment resilience relationships

Mood

emotional reflective

Type

Hold:1 Holding:1 Hug:0 Public:0 Thing Matters:0 Holding Holding:0 Holding Outside:0 Matters Holding:0

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- crisis coping
- support systems

Key Concepts

psychology emotional health philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance attachment and independence?
- What supports help maintain love during hardship?

A Different Perspective

Clinging may become unhealthy if obsessive.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/) [Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding/) [Holding Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-holding-649079/) [Holding Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-outside-1234455/) [Hug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hug/) [Matters Holding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-holding-1234456/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Thing Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-matters/)

## Related quotes

> [What's gone is not holding you back, but what's holding back is the fact that it's gone..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovan/what-s-gone-is-not-holding-you-back-but-what-s-holding-back-is-the/)

[Jovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovan/)

> [He's out there holding on to someone, I'm holding up my smoking gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/he-s-out-there-holding-on-to-someone-i-m-holding-up-my-smoking-gun/)

[Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/)

> [When you are holding someone down, you are also holding yourself down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/when-you-are-holding-someone-down-you-are-also-holding-yourself-down/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [I'm not holding you against your will; I'm holding you against your car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/i-m-not-holding-you-against-your-will-i-m-holding-you-against-your-car/)

[Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/)

> [Everyone has got the fear It's holding on It's holding on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/everyone-has-got-the-fear-it-s-holding-on-it-s-holding-on/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [I don't feel like holding onto you...Holding onto you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-styles/i-don-t-feel-like-holding-onto-you-holding-onto-you/)

[Darren Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-styles/)

> [If the hand YOU are holding is holding you down¦let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/if-the-hand-you-are-holding-is-holding-you-down-let-go/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [Instead I keep on holding on I keep holding on. When I close my eyes I think about you. I just can�t let you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-wright/instead-i-keep-on-holding-on-i-keep-holding-on-when-i-close-my-eyes-i/)

[Lizz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-wright/)

> [“I was holding her and she was holding me. Couldn’t see we both were going down. When holding on is the only thing you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolee-dean/i-was-holding-her-and-she-was-holding-me-couldn-t-see-we-both-were/)

[Carolee Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolee-dean/)

> [49 and holding. Holding tight! Fighting that heinous age every step of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-ward/49-and-holding-holding-tight-fighting-that-heinous-age-every-step-of/)

[Burt Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-ward/)

> [“Embarrassment flooded me, but Rider was grinning as he scooted closer and tugged me over. Before I knew what he was doing, he’d tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/embarrassment-flooded-me-but-rider-was-grinning-as-he-scooted-closer/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [What I like about Americans is if it's good music, that's the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/what-i-like-about-americans-is-if-it-s-good-music-that-s-the-only/)

[Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/)

> [All your horse looks for is the thing that matters most, peace and contentment. Give it to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/all-your-horse-looks-for-is-the-thing-that-matters-most-peace-and/)

[Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/)

> [The only thing that matters in college basketball is going to the Final Four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/the-only-thing-that-matters-in-college-basketball-is-going-to-the/)

[Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/)

> [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/)

[Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/)

## More by Philippe Besson

> [“Those who have not taken this step, who have not come to terms with themselves, are not necessarily frightened, they are perhaps helpless, disoriented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-besson/those-who-have-not-taken-this-step-who-have-not-come-to-terms-with/)

[Philippe Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-besson/)

[Explore all 2 Philippe Besson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-besson/)

## More Hold quotes

> [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

> [See you in a few. Hold down the fort, Mr. Wong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/see-you-in-a-few-hold-down-the-fort-mr-wong/)

[Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/)

> [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/)

[Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/)

> [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [I hold that religion and faith are two different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buckley/i-hold-that-religion-and-faith-are-two-different-things/)

[Pat Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buckley/)

> [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/)

[Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/)

> [I do not chase after anyone if you wanna walk out my life then I will hold the fu\*\*\*\*g door open for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-do-not-chase-after-anyone-if-you-wanna-walk-out-my-life-then-i-will/)

[Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Just as Wall Street needs to break the hold of the bonus culture, which drives risk-taking that is rational for individuals but damaging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-schekman/just-as-wall-street-needs-to-break-the-hold-of-the-bonus-culture/)

[Randy Schekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-schekman/)

> [Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let the fear of dropping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-alberti/hold-tenderly-that-which-you-cherish-for-it-is-precious-and-a-tight/)

[Bob Alberti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-alberti/)

> [Sometimes, I get afraid it has defined me, that sense of grief, loss and illness. But actually, it is about allowing myself to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-get-afraid-it-has-defined-me-that-sense-of-grief-loss-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You want to embrace, but I can't figure out how to hold on to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/you-want-to-embrace-but-i-can-t-figure-out-how-to-hold-on-to-it/)

[Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/)

[Browse all 2,062 Hold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to him, that I'm holding on to him 'outside'.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Philippe Besson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-besson/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m-holding-one-to-him-that-i-m/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Hold"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-besson/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m-holding-one-to-him-that-i-m/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/philippe-besson-62484_hold_the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m_900257.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only thing that matters is that I'm holding one to him, that I'm holding on to him 'outside'.” — Philippe Besson",
                "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": "Philippe Besson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-besson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The only thing that matters is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-besson/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m-holding-one-to-him-that-i-m/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-besson/the-only-thing-that-matters-is-that-i-m-holding-one-to-him-that-i-m/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
