--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Emily knew she was going to cry. She…" description: "\"“Emily knew she was going to cry. She tried to avert it with a childhood trick that had sometimes worked before - pressing both thumbnails hard into th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/richard-yates-2840_children_emily-knew-she-was-going-to-cry-she-trie_689632.png" --- # Emily knew she was going to cry. She tried to avert it… ![“Emily knew she was going to cry. She tried to avert it with a childhood trick that had sometimes worked before - pressing both thumbnails hard into the tender flesh beneath the nails of her index fingers, so that the self-inflicted pain might be greater than the ache of her swelling throat - but…” quote by Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/richard-yates-2840_children_emily-knew-she-was-going-to-cry-she-trie_689632.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/richard-yates-2840_children_emily-knew-she-was-going-to-cry-she-trie_689632.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c2/richard-yates-2840_children_emily-knew-she-was-going-to-cry-she-trie_689632.png) > ““Emily knew she was going to cry. She tried to avert it with a childhood trick that had sometimes worked before - pressing both thumbnails hard into the tender flesh beneath the nails of her index fingers, so that the self-inflicted pain might be greater than the ache of her swelling throat - but it was no use.”” [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s coping trick of self‑pain to suppress emotion illustrates desperate attempts to control overwhelming feelings. **In simple terms:** Self‑pain used to hide tears. Key Takeaway Seek healthier emotional coping. Themes emotion coping pain childhood suppression Mood sad intense Type literary psychological When to use this quote - therapy - parenting - mental health support - creative writing Key Concepts self‑inflicted pain emotional regulation psychological defense Questions to Reflect On - What healthier ways can we manage grief? - How does suppression affect long‑term wellbeing? A Different Perspective Self‑pain can cause lasting harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [“What I wanted was to bang by forehead against the steering wheel till it bled. 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