--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold…" description: "\"“He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now col..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/ray-bradbury-75_darkness_he-felt-his-smile-slide-away-melt-fold-o_540949.jpg" --- # He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on… ![“He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out. Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of…” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/ray-bradbury-75_darkness_he-felt-his-smile-slide-away-melt-fold-o_540949.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/ray-bradbury-75_darkness_he-felt-his-smile-slide-away-melt-fold-o_540949.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/808/ray-bradbury-75_darkness_he-felt-his-smile-slide-away-melt-fold-o_540949.jpg) > ““He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out. Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back.”” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man realizes his outward happiness is a false façade; when it’s gone, he feels empty and helpless. **In simple terms:** His smile was a mask that vanished, leaving him miserable. Key Takeaway Recognize and address true feelings instead of masking them. Themes identity authenticity loss loneliness Mood melancholic reflective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - relationship breakup - personal crisis - mental health - self‑reflection Key Concepts self‑deception masking emotional awareness Questions to Reflect On - What are you masking in your life? - How can you confront genuine emotions? A Different Perspective Masks can hide pain but also prevent seeking help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ## Related quotes > [“He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/he-was-not-happy-he-was-not-happy-he-said-the-words-to-himself-he/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/he-wore-his-happiness-like-a-mask-and-the-girl-had-run-off-across-the/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“New rule," he said. "No more rules." She smiled. "And if I agree to this 'no more rules,' what's in it for me?" "Me."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/new-rule-he-said-no-more-rules-she-smiled-and-if-i-agree-to-this-no/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“Thanks, now I have a wet T-shirt.” I felt his smile on the back of my neck. “Perhaps that was my intention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/thanks-now-i-have-a-wet-t-shirt-i-felt-his-smile-on-the-back-of-my/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“He smiled then, and I felt that smile like a vibration moving through me, the way you might feel if you walked through a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-anne-fowler/he-smiled-then-and-i-felt-that-smile-like-a-vibration-moving-through/) [Therese Anne Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-anne-fowler/) > [“Adrian took a few steps toward me. "Not bad, Sage. I think you just scared old man Mazur." I felt a smile of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/adrian-took-a-few-steps-toward-me-not-bad-sage-i-think-you-just/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Devon kept his mouth on her, easing the pleasure into relaxation. She summoned just enough strength to reach out and caress his hair. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/devon-kept-his-mouth-on-her-easing-the-pleasure-into-relaxation-she/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“I felt him smile against my skin, but he didn’t raise his head and he didn’t attempt to move, his body laying half on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-felt-him-smile-against-my-skin-but-he-didn-t-raise-his-head-and-he/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“He felt himself smile. He felt like something warm had spilled in his heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-felt-himself-smile-he-felt-like-something-warm-had-spilled-in-his/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“My whole body felt light, unguarded. I leaned in without even thinking about it, not too much at least, and kissed Dominic’s lips. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vee-hoffman/my-whole-body-felt-light-unguarded-i-leaned-in-without-even-thinking/) [Vee Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vee-hoffman/) > [His lips pressed against her forehead and she felt him smile against her skin. "Believe me...the only place in the world I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/his-lips-pressed-against-her-forehead-and-she-felt-him-smile-against/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“I felt a smile on my face. "Thanks." "For what?" "Using my name instead of calling me a thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corwin/i-felt-a-smile-on-my-face-thanks-for-what-using-my-name-instead-of/) [John Corwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corwin/) > [I sat in at every club in New York City, jamming with musicians, because it felt right - and because it felt right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-conniff/i-sat-in-at-every-club-in-new-york-city-jamming-with-musicians/) [Ray Conniff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-conniff/) > [For 'Blue Jasmine,' I made a decision not to wear any make up in the last shot of the film, as I felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/for-blue-jasmine-i-made-a-decision-not-to-wear-any-make-up-in-the/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Ooh I like your mask...ooh wait its your face..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ooh-i-like-your-mask-ooh-wait-its-your-face/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ray Bradbury > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. 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It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [I guess he'll have to figure out someday that he is supposed to have this dark side, that it is part of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-guess-he-ll-have-to-figure-out-someday-that-he-is-supposed-to-have/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Even in darkness your lips taste of sunshine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/even-in-darkness-your-lips-taste-of-sunshine/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“Defy me not for gleam can only shine in my existence" said Darkness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/defy-me-not-for-gleam-can-only-shine-in-my-existence-said-darkness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) Nicole Gentile [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out. Darkness. He was not happy. He was not happy. He said the words to himself. He recognized this as the true state of affairs. 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