--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I touched the combination lock. I…" description: "\"I touched the combination lock. I concentrated so hard I felt like I was dead-lifting five hundred pounds. My pulse quickening. A line of sweat trickle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/rick-riordan-27_avoiding_i-touched-the-combination-lock-i-concent_2691655.jpg" --- # I touched the combination lock. I concentrated so hard I… ![“I touched the combination lock. I concentrated so hard I felt like I was dead-lifting five hundred pounds. My pulse quickening. A line of sweat trickled down my nose. Finally I felt gears turning. Metal groaned, tumblers clicked, and the bolts popped back. Carefully avoiding the handle, I pried…” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/rick-riordan-27_avoiding_i-touched-the-combination-lock-i-concent_2691655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/rick-riordan-27_avoiding_i-touched-the-combination-lock-i-concent_2691655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a39/rick-riordan-27_avoiding_i-touched-the-combination-lock-i-concent_2691655.jpg) > “I touched the combination lock. I concentrated so hard I felt like I was dead-lifting five hundred pounds. My pulse quickening. A line of sweat trickled down my nose. Finally I felt gears turning. Metal groaned, tumblers clicked, and the bolts popped back. Carefully avoiding the handle, I pried open the door with my fingertips and extracted an unbroken vial of green liquid. Hal exhaled. Thalia kissed me on the cheek, which she probably shouldn't haven't done while I was holding a tube of deadly poison. "You are so good," she said. Did that make the risk worth? Yeah, pretty much.” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense focus can turn a daunting task into a manageable process, leading to success despite risks. **In simple terms:** Focus transforms difficulty into achievement. Key Takeaway Stay focused under pressure. Themes focus risk determination skill Mood tense excited cautious Type narrative adventurous When to use this quote - unlocking puzzles - handling dangerous objects - making critical decisions Key Concepts psychology problem solving hand-eye coordination Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking for a goal? - How do you maintain safety while focusing intensely? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can ignore safety, leading to danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Deadly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadly/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Fingertips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingertips/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Gears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gears/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Hal Exhaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hal-exhaled-2662230/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed/) [Kissed Cheek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kissed-cheek/) [Lifting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifting/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Liquid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liquid/) [Locks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locks/) [Metals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metals/) [Noses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noses/) [Poison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poison/) [Pounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounds/) [Pulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulse/) [Quickening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickening/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweat/) [Thalia Kissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thalia-kissed-2662229/) [Unbroken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbroken/) [Yeah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yeah/) ## Related quotes > [“I lifted my wand, hoping she would see this as a dramatic move, not a threat. “Why once, in my bunker at Charing Cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-lifted-my-wand-hoping-she-would-see-this-as-a-dramatic-move-not-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [A love revolution is forming far out to sea like a series of waves that build on one another until the whole earth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/a-love-revolution-is-forming-far-out-to-sea-like-a-series-of-waves/) [Julia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-loren/) > [We need a quickening of faith; faith in the power of the God of Pentecost to convict and convert three thousand in a day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-dixon/we-need-a-quickening-of-faith-faith-in-the-power-of-the-god-of/) [A. 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Then, if we are lucky, we are able to call every resource, every forgotten image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/in-time-of-crisis-we-summon-up-our-strength-then-if-we-are-lucky-we/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [All through it, I have known myself to be quite undeserving. And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-through-it-i-have-known-myself-to-be-quite-undeserving-and-yet-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [And none will hear the postman’s knock Without a quickening of the heart. For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-none-will-hear-the-postman-s-knock-without-a-quickening-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is rewarding to find someone you like, but it is essential to like yourself. It is quickening to recognize that someone is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-coudert/it-is-rewarding-to-find-someone-you-like-but-it-is-essential-to-like/) [Jo Coudert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-coudert/) > [Shakespeare and Rembrandt have in common the faculty of quickening speculation and compelling the minds of men to combat and discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ernest-henley/shakespeare-and-rembrandt-have-in-common-the-faculty-of-quickening/) [William Ernest Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-henley/) > [My work is the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird - equal seekers of sweetness. Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/my-work-is-the-world-here-the-sunflowers-there-the-hummingbird-equal/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [So that, were it the purpose of God to produce comets as signs of his wrath it would be true to say that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bayle/so-that-were-it-the-purpose-of-god-to-produce-comets-as-signs-of-his/) [Pierre Bayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayle/) > [As we move into the 21st century, there's what the Bible calls a 'quickening of the spirit.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/as-we-move-into-the-21st-century-there-s-what-the-bible-calls-a/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [We can set no limit to human potentialities; all that is best in man can be bettered; it is not a question of producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/we-can-set-no-limit-to-human-potentialities-all-that-is-best-in-man/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [Probably people always feel that they are living in a time of transition, but we can hardly be mistaken perhaps in thinking that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-greene-balch/probably-people-always-feel-that-they-are-living-in-a-time-of/) [Emily Greene Balch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-greene-balch/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. 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They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) [Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/) > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) [Craig Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-armstrong/) > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) [Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I touched the combination lock. I concentrated so hard I felt like I was dead-lifting five hundred pounds. My pulse quickening. A line of sweat trickled down my nose. Finally I felt gears turning. Metal groaned, tumblers clicked, and the bolts popped back. Carefully avoiding the handle, I pried open the door with my fingertips and extracted an unbroken vial of green liquid. Hal exhaled. Thalia kissed me on the cheek, which she probably shouldn't haven't done while I was holding a tube of deadly poison. \"You are so good,\" she said. Did that make the risk worth? 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