--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that in the silence that followed…" description: "\"“I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late again. I might have missed my chance. But I would at l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg" --- # I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything… ![“I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late again. I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extended my hand, whatever the outcome.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg) > ““I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late again. I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extended my hand, whatever the outcome.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking action despite uncertainty shows courage and personal growth, regardless of outcome. **In simple terms:** Act even when unsure. Key Takeaway Try, learn, and move forward. Themes courage uncertainty growth Mood hopeful reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - job applications - creative pursuits - relationship decisions - health goals Key Concepts decision making risk taking self-discovery Questions to Reflect On - What would you attempt if fear vanished? - How does trying shape your identity? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can paralyze action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [I lay down across her with my face in her breasts and my hand on her. We lay there without moving. But under us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-lay-down-across-her-with-my-face-in-her-breasts-and-my-hand-on-her-2/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“I felt like telling Japhy everything I thought but I knew it didn't matter and moreover he knew it anyway and silence is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-felt-like-telling-japhy-everything-i-thought-but-i-knew-it-didn-t/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [All still when summer is over stand shocks in the field, nothing left to whisper, not even good-bye, to the wind. After summer was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/all-still-when-summer-is-over-stand-shocks-in-the-field-nothing-left/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [I knew, in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late: again, I might have missed my chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-knew-in-the-silence-that-followed-that-anything-could-happen-here/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I only became a novelist because I thought I had missed my chance to become a historian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-only-became-a-novelist-because-i-thought-i-had-missed-my-chance-to/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Face it boy, you couldve had her. You missed your chance, you should've moved faster. She's sick of waiting, she's finally moved on. Sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/face-it-boy-you-couldve-had-her-you-missed-your-chance-you-should-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think that Sarah Palin really missed the chance to educate the public on what some of the challenges her son is actually facing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-soltz/i-think-that-sarah-palin-really-missed-the-chance-to-educate-the/) [Jon Soltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-soltz/) > [“Why aren't the two of you together?' The directness of her question throws me. 'I don't know. Sometimes I think there are only so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/why-aren-t-the-two-of-you-together-the-directness-of-her-question/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Im just one of those hopelessly romantic people so I dont think Ill ever run out of stories. Im always looking for love. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-just-one-of-those-hopelessly-romantic-people-so-i-dont-think-ill/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes I think there are only so many opportunities . . . to get together with someone. And we’ve both screwed up so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/sometimes-i-think-there-are-only-so-many-opportunities-to-get/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I missed my chance to tell you something very simple: I love you. It may be too late now, but I wanted you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho-s/i-missed-my-chance-to-tell-you-something-very-simple-i-love-you-it/) [Paulo Coelho's](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho-s/) > [Nothing could be left to chance, because chance, after all, can be dangerous. But what I didn't realize all that time, what I missed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-kirby/nothing-could-be-left-to-chance-because-chance-after-all-can-be/) [Jessi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-kirby/) > [Yeah, some things in this world might have passed me by and I might have missed a chance or two but you wont find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yeah-some-things-in-this-world-might-have-passed-me-by-and-i-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you don't laugh at all, you've missed the point. If you only laugh, you've missed your chance from illumination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/if-you-don-t-laugh-at-all-you-ve-missed-the-point-if-you-only-laugh/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [“...a wasted opportunity wasn't just a missed chance, but was a wound to your future. Miss too many opportunities, thus sustaining too many wounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-wasted-opportunity-wasn-t-just-a-missed-chance-but-was-a-wound-to/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Too late quotes > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [“4. THE CRUMBLING WALL (Hamburger, prepared medium well, with bacon and barbecue sauce. Courtesy of that place on Solano, where, it should be mentioned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/4-the-crumbling-wall-hamburger-prepared-medium-well-with-bacon-and/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“If you go to bed too early and get up too late you probably won't sleep especially well. This could show up as either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-a-lewis/if-you-go-to-bed-too-early-and-get-up-too-late-you-probably-won-t/) [Penelope A. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-a-lewis/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-kar-wai/love-is-all-a-matter-of-timing-it-s-no-good-meeting-the-right-person/) [Wong Kar-wai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-kar-wai/) > [God alone knows how great it is. All I hope is that it is not too late. I am very much afraid that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/god-alone-knows-how-great-it-is-all-i-hope-is-that-it-is-not-too-late/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“And I can tell you, without question, that it’s too late for any man who goes to war. Even if he lives, he’ll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-nelle-patrick/and-i-can-tell-you-without-question-that-it-s-too-late-for-any-man/) [J. Nelle Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-nelle-patrick/) > [“How can you love someone when you know they will never truly love you back because they can’t ever love you back? Your brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-moore/how-can-you-love-someone-when-you-know-they-will-never-truly-love-you/) [Portia Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-moore/) > [Everything in this world has a hidden meaning, I thought. Men, animals, trees, stars, they are all hieroglyphics; woe to anyone who begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/everything-in-this-world-has-a-hidden-meaning-i-thought-men-animals/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [It is not too late. You are not too old. You are right on time-And you are better than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-is-not-too-late-you-are-not-too-old-you-are-right-on-time-and-you/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“I think what everyone should be doing, before it's too late, is committing themselves to what they really want to do with their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/i-think-what-everyone-should-be-doing-before-it-s-too-late-is/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“No matter how broken you think you are always remember that there’re worse stories than yours out there and it’s never too late to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pantelis-kassotis/no-matter-how-broken-you-think-you-are-always-remember-that-there-re/) Pantelis Kassotis [Browse all 3,405 Too late quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late again. I might have missed my chance. But I would at least know I tried, that I took my heart and extended my hand, whatever the outcome.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed-that-anything-could-happen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Too late" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed-that-anything-could-happen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/sarah-dessen-110_too-late_i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed_1298524.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew that in the silence that followed, that anything could happen here. It might be too late again. I…” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I knew that in the silence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed-that-anything-could-happen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-knew-that-in-the-silence-that-followed-that-anything-could-happen/#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 } } ] } ```