---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd never have gotten this far without…"
description: "\"“I'd never have gotten this far without you,\" I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new position under my ribs. I close..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png"
---

#  I'd never have gotten this far without you," I said. Jack…

![“I'd never have gotten this far without you,&quot; I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new position under my ribs. I closed the door fast before I could say something really stupid.” quote by Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png)

> ““I'd never have gotten this far without you," I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new position under my ribs. I closed the door fast before I could say something really stupid.””

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

## About This Quote

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

Gratitude for support is expressed, but fear of saying something foolish leads to silence.

**In simple terms:** Thankfulness meets anxiety.

Key Takeaway

Embrace gratitude while confronting fear.

Themes

gratitude anxiety communication

Mood

hopeful apprehensive

Type

emotional reflective

When to use this quote

- friendship moments
- career milestones
- personal growth

Key Concepts

interpersonal trust self‑doubt emotional vulnerability

Questions to Reflect On

- What holds you back from speaking openly?
- How can you balance gratitude with self‑confidence?

A Different Perspective

Silence can prevent honest expression and growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dust-girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust-girl/) [Sarah-zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarah-zettel/)

## Related quotes

> [“Now that you know the wishing ways, you'll feel the wishes around you. They'll make you itchy, 'cause you know you can do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/now-that-you-know-the-wishing-ways-you-ll-feel-the-wishes-around-you/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“I wasn't used to looking ahead. Not like Jack. Maybe that was why he had that ready grin. I could see through the dust,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-wasn-t-used-to-looking-ahead-not-like-jack-maybe-that-was-why-he/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“I thought maybe I could just get away from everything. But you can't get away from a thing that's your own fault.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-thought-maybe-i-could-just-get-away-from-everything-but-you-can-t/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“I'd been right about Jack Holland. He had the kind of face that could make you believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-been-right-about-jack-holland-he-had-the-kind-of-face-that-could/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“Bullets sound like hornets when they pass too close to your head. After a while, the world closes down. You can't hear much, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/bullets-sound-like-hornets-when-they-pass-too-close-to-your-head/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“I wish I knew who I am," I whispered to the stars in Baya's eyes. Slowly, Baya shook his head. "Oh, Dust Girl, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-wish-i-knew-who-i-am-i-whispered-to-the-stars-in-baya-s-eyes-slowly/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“We're not in Fairyland! We're in Kansas!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/we-re-not-in-fairyland-we-re-in-kansas/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“A gun is a terrible thing. It's a dark hole pointed at you, and that hole swallows up everything else in the world, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/a-gun-is-a-terrible-thing-it-s-a-dark-hole-pointed-at-you-and-that/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“The makers, the beautiful, the ones cast out because their light was too brilliant for the world beyond. The ones who wish true and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/the-makers-the-beautiful-the-ones-cast-out-because-their-light-was/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“They were beautiful beyond words, beautiful beyond understanding. So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/they-were-beautiful-beyond-words-beautiful-beyond-understanding-so/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“ ‘Dad,’ said Jack one day. ‘When you’re on the telly, d’you think people are laughing with you or at you?’ The question had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/dad-said-jack-one-day-when-you-re-on-the-telly-d-you-think-people-are/)

[Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/)

> [“I fear nothing when I am doing right,' said Jack. 'Then,' said the lady in the red cap, 'you are one of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/i-fear-nothing-when-i-am-doing-right-said-jack-then-said-the-lady-in/)

[Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/)

> [“You'll let him talk you out of your dreams. That's what love does sometimes- talks you out of your dreams." "Not me," Katie said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-callahan-henry/you-ll-let-him-talk-you-out-of-your-dreams-that-s-what-love-does/)

[Patti Callahan Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-callahan-henry/)

> [When my son, Jack, was four, I had to make a trip to Los Angeles. I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

## More by Sarah Zettel

> [Then, I realized that there is an indigenous presence in the Solar System. It's us. So, then, I got to wondering what would happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/then-i-realized-that-there-is-an-indigenous-presence-in-the-solar/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [When I'm not at the keyboard, I'm generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-m-not-at-the-keyboard-i-m-generally-reading-practicing-tai-chi/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/so-one-of-the-things-i-was-doing-with-the-aliens-in-the-quiet/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“Sometimes it's not good for people to find out who you really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/sometimes-it-s-not-good-for-people-to-find-out-who-you-really-are/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [I have to do more close research and fact checking for the science fiction. This is not however to say that writing good fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-have-to-do-more-close-research-and-fact-checking-for-the-science/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [I feel SF is going through an experimental phase right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-feel-sf-is-going-through-an-experimental-phase-right-now/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [When I was in college, I spent a summer working in London. I'd enjoyed tea before that, but then I got actual, really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-was-in-college-i-spent-a-summer-working-in-london-i-d-enjoyed/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“They were beautiful beyond words, beautiful beyond understanding. So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/they-were-beautiful-beyond-words-beautiful-beyond-understanding-so/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [Now, Venus is an extremely hostile environment, and as such presents a lot of challenges for a science fiction author who wants to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/now-venus-is-an-extremely-hostile-environment-and-as-such-presents-a/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [First and foremost, The Quiet Invasion is a first contact story. What would we do if we actually found evidence of alien life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/first-and-foremost-the-quiet-invasion-is-a-first-contact-story-what/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [Becoming a mother cannot help but change things. An author's life is reflected in their writing, whether they want it to be or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/becoming-a-mother-cannot-help-but-change-things-an-author-s-life-is/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [“But art is supposed to enlighten, isn’t it? Not just reflect? It’s to show us the best of the present modeled in the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/but-art-is-supposed-to-enlighten-isn-t-it-not-just-reflect-it-s-to/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [I think the diversity of authors and readers is expanding, which is wonderful, because it means the type of story being told is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-think-the-diversity-of-authors-and-readers-is-expanding-which-is/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

> [I have a better internal and intuitive understanding of folklore and myth than science and technology, so in that way fantasy is easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-have-a-better-internal-and-intuitive-understanding-of-folklore-and/)

[Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

[Explore all 53 Sarah Zettel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/)

## More Closed door quotes

> [Nothing attracts me like a closed door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/nothing-attracts-me-like-a-closed-door/)

[Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/)

> [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/)

[Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/)

> [“The lawyers ceded their right to argue to case before the justices. A verdict would be rendered in secret, behind closed doors, with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-berard/the-lawyers-ceded-their-right-to-argue-to-case-before-the-justices-a/)

[Adrienne Berard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-berard/)

> [“International leaders in business, government, and nonprofit organizations whisper behind closed doors about the way visiting Americans live in their own bubbles without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/international-leaders-in-business-government-and-nonprofit/)

[David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/)

> [“I just . . . I just wanted to make sure you were . . . okay.” He shoved away from the door as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/i-just-i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-you-were-okay-he-shoved-away-from/)

[Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/)

> [“As Helen Keller put it, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/as-helen-keller-put-it-when-one-door-of-happiness-closes-another/)

[Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/)

> [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/)

[Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/)

> [I developed the habit of writing novels behind a closed door, or at my uncle's, on the dining table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/i-developed-the-habit-of-writing-novels-behind-a-closed-door-or-at-my/)

[Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/)

> [Sometimes the ones who seem the most holy in public are the ones hiding the most dirty of secrets behind closed doors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sashauni-aaeliyae/sometimes-the-ones-who-seem-the-most-holy-in-public-are-the-ones/)

Sashauni Aaeliyae

> [“Girl in the wind blowing wide open the closed doors of my life - which way are we going? Standing against the lurid sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-brown/girl-in-the-wind-blowing-wide-open-the-closed-doors-of-my-life-which/)

Christy Brown

> [Others like City Hall the old way, when they could make deals behind closed doors with your tax money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/others-like-city-hall-the-old-way-when-they-could-make-deals-behind/)

[Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/)

> [The people want government that works for them at every level. They want good government that begins at their doorstep in the barangay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/the-people-want-government-that-works-for-them-at-every-level-they/)

[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-macapagal-arroyo/)

> [The Metropolitan Museum of Art some time ago held a display of contemporary art at which $52,000 was awarded to American sculptors, painters, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-keller/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-some-time-ago-held-a-display-of/)

[James Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-keller/)

> [It is one of life's laws that as soon as one door closes another opens. But the tragedy is we look at the closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/it-is-one-of-life-s-laws-that-as-soon-as-one-door-closes-another/)

[Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/)

> [To all those I've loved I can't take this any more, By the time you read this, I'll be waiting at Hell's door. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-all-those-i-ve-loved-i-can-t-take-this-any-more-by-the-time-you/)

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

Browse all 517 Closed door quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I'd never have gotten this far without you,\" I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new position under my ribs. I closed the door fast before I could say something really stupid.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sarah Zettel"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Closed door"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/sarah-zettel-12795_closed-door_i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-y_639480.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'd never have gotten this far without you,\" I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to…” — Sarah Zettel",
                "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 Zettel",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I'd never have gotten this far...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
