---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My life was going to flash before my…"
description: "\"My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror instead.\" — Sarah Rees Brennan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png"
---

#  My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided…

![“My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror instead.” quote by Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png)

> “My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror instead.”

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator describes a terrifying moment where death is avoided, but fear remains, highlighting how terror can dominate perception.

**In simple terms:** Fear can dominate even when death is avoided.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge fear and seek calm.

Themes

psychology fear mortality

Mood

introspective empathetic

Type

psychological motivational

When to use this quote

- therapy
- personal growth
- mindfulness
- support groups

Key Concepts

anxiety survival instinct psychological trauma

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you confront lingering fear after a crisis?
- What practices help transform terror into resilience?

A Different Perspective

Fear may persist despite safety, requiring active coping.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Quake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-quake-2732751/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Flash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flash/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Quake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quake/) [Quake Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quake-terror-2732750/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Terror Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror-instead-2732752/)

## Related quotes

> [The Earth is God's pinball machine and each quake, tidal wave, flash flood and volcanic eruption is the result of a TILT that occurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-earth-is-god-s-pinball-machine-and-each-quake-tidal-wave-flash/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [If I quake, what matters it what I quake at? Our proper vice takes form in one or another shape, according to the sex,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-i-quake-what-matters-it-what-i-quake-at-our-proper-vice-takes-form/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/)

[Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/)

> [Now, I testify it is a small voice. It whispers, not shouts. And so you must be very quiet inside. That is why you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/now-i-testify-it-is-a-small-voice-it-whispers-not-shouts-and-so-you/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [So what’s the use of repentance, and what do you care for goodness, and what if you should die in a quake, so who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/so-what-s-the-use-of-repentance-and-what-do-you-care-for-goodness-and/)

[John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/)

> [So many people glorify and romanticize 'busy.' I do not. I value purpose. I believe in resting in reason and moving in passion. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-cook/so-many-people-glorify-and-romanticize-busy-i-do-not-i-value-purpose/)

[Joseph Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-cook/)

> [Clear, and compassionate, this collection illuminates the problems and opportunities that flowed from Christchurch after the quakes, and interrogates the manmade disaster that followed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylene-preston/clear-and-compassionate-this-collection-illuminates-the-problems-and/)

[Gaylene Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylene-preston/)

> [There are still some people who think that we have Stalin to thank for all our progress, who quake before Stalin's dirty under-draws, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/there-are-still-some-people-who-think-that-we-have-stalin-to-thank/)

[Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/)

> [At Poltersberg, there is a lake similarly cursed. If you throw a stone into it, a dreadful storm immediately arises, and the whole neighboring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/at-poltersberg-there-is-a-lake-similarly-cursed-if-you-throw-a-stone/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The trouble is, you cannot grow just one zucchini. Minutes after you plant a single seed, hundreds of zucchini will barge out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-trouble-is-you-cannot-grow-just-one-zucchini-minutes-after-you/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [“She left our Gdańsk-Morena apartment with same haste as Tata, gone in a mad dash. She must have prepared for it , trained hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aga-maksimowska/she-left-our-gda-sk-morena-apartment-with-same-haste-as-tata-gone-in/)

[Aga Maksimowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aga-maksimowska/)

> [“The Los Angeles earthquake of October 1,1987 measured 5.9 on the Richter scale. It killed eight people, injured scores more, and left 2,200 people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gittins/the-los-angeles-earthquake-of-october-1-1987-measured-5-9-on-the/)

[Ian Gittins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gittins/)

> [What was it like working with John Carmack on Quake? Like being strapped onto a rocket during takeoff – in the middle of a hurricane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-abrash/what-was-it-like-working-with-john-carmack-on-quake-like-being/)

[Michael Abrash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-abrash/)

> [Vulnerability is the only authentic state. Being vulnerable means being open, for wounding, but also for pleasure. Being open to the wounds of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-russell/vulnerability-is-the-only-authentic-state-being-vulnerable-means/)

[Stephen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-russell/)

> [The fact that the president (Michelle Bachelet) was out giving minute-to-minute reports a few hours after the quake in the middle of the night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-sinclair/the-fact-that-the-president-michelle-bachelet-was-out-giving-minute/)

[Cameron Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-sinclair/)

## More by Sarah Rees Brennan

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“I saw strangers’ faces passing me, a brief sympathetic glance, a wolf whistle from a car at the soaking-wet girl. No help was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-saw-strangers-faces-passing-me-a-brief-sympathetic-glance-a-wolf/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“You should wear whatever clothing you feel most comfortable in. Being comfortable in yourself is the best way to be attractive to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-should-wear-whatever-clothing-you-feel-most-comfortable-in-being/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [Jared glared. Some people, Kami knew, had bedroom eyes. She was saddened to have to admit that Jared had filthy alleyway eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/jared-glared-some-people-kami-knew-had-bedroom-eyes-she-was-saddened/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“There was silence in her head and silence beneath her window, and still she could not sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/there-was-silence-in-her-head-and-silence-beneath-her-window-and/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“I'm not doing much, said Jared, warm in her mind, the amusement lingering. Just stuck in an elevator with this creepy Asian girl giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-m-not-doing-much-said-jared-warm-in-her-mind-the-amusement/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“The most annoying thing, perhaps, was that the elven troop were obviously good people and were being kind to them, and yet Elliot felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/the-most-annoying-thing-perhaps-was-that-the-elven-troop-were/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-clenched-her-fist-in-his-t-shirt-put-her-other-arm-around-those/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“You existing in the world is all I need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-existing-in-the-world-is-all-i-need/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [I don't want to seem ungrateful when you have given me this thoughtful, homemade and totally terrifying gift," Jamie told him. "But you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-want-to-seem-ungrateful-when-you-have-given-me-this/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [She was kind of in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-was-kind-of-in-love-with-him/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [Kami'd always retold her fairy tales to make the fair maidens braver and more self-sufficient, but she had never had any real objection to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/kami-d-always-retold-her-fairy-tales-to-make-the-fair-maidens-braver/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> ["Lay the knife at the tips of your fingers," Rob commanded. "So close youcan feel the blade against your skins. Then cut the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/lay-the-knife-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers-rob-commanded-so-close/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

[Explore all 313 Sarah Rees Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

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

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

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

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

[Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror instead.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah Rees Brennan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eyes-but-it-decided-to-hide/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eyes-but-it-decided-to-hide/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/973/sarah-rees-brennan-994_behinds_my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eye_2700922.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My life was going to flash before my eyes, but it decided to hide behind my eyes and quake with terror…” — Sarah Rees Brennan",
                "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 Rees Brennan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My life was going to flash...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eyes-but-it-decided-to-hide/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/my-life-was-going-to-flash-before-my-eyes-but-it-decided-to-hide/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
