---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't. At least not for a while. I need…"
description: "\"I can't. At least not for a while. I need time to get past this and I can't guarantee that I won't hurt him again. God knows, Nick has a true gift for ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_amanda_i-can-t-at-least-not-for-a-while-i-need_3086004.jpg"
---

#  I can't. At least not for a while. I need time to get past…

![“I can't. At least not for a while. I need time to get past this and I can't guarantee that I won't hurt him again. God knows, Nick has a true gift for saying the wrong thing in any given situation. (Acheron) You know he loves you, right? (Amanda) Yeah, but emotions don't have brains. (Acheron)” quote by Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_amanda_i-can-t-at-least-not-for-a-while-i-need_3086004.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_amanda_i-can-t-at-least-not-for-a-while-i-need_3086004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ee/sherrilyn-kenyon-25_amanda_i-can-t-at-least-not-for-a-while-i-need_3086004.jpg)

> “I can't. At least not for a while. I need time to get past this and I can't guarantee that I won't hurt him again. God knows, Nick has a true gift for saying the wrong thing in any given situation. (Acheron) You know he loves you, right? (Amanda) Yeah, but emotions don't have brains. (Acheron)”

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

## About This Quote

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

A character admits they need time and fear hurting someone again, highlighting emotional uncertainty and the difficulty of managing relationships when feelings are volatile.

**In simple terms:** Need time to avoid hurting others; emotions can be irrational.

Key Takeaway

Pause before acting to protect others.

Themes

relationships emotional health self‑care

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

advice dialogue

When to use this quote

- breakup recovery
- conflict resolution
- personal boundaries

Key Concepts

attachment trust communication

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you ensure your actions don’t cause harm?
- What steps help you process intense feelings?

A Different Perspective

Emotions may cloud judgment, making decisions harder.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [I need time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-need-time/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Saying the wrong thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-the-wrong-thing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The game hangmman is great; it teaches you that by saying the wrong things, could end someones life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/the-game-hangmman-is-great-it-teaches-you-that-by-saying-the-wrong/)

Patience

> [“I’m just one of those people with a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/i-m-just-one-of-those-people-with-a-talent-for-saying-the-wrong-thing/)

Guideposts

> [I'm terrified of saying the wrong thing on stage with bell hooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-m-terrified-of-saying-the-wrong-thing-on-stage-with-bell-hooks/)

[Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/)

> [Saying just the right thing after a considerable, awkward pause is far less effective than saying the wrong thing with perfect timing. I'm telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/saying-just-the-right-thing-after-a-considerable-awkward-pause-is-far/)

[Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/)

> [Real life is a funny thing, you know. In real life, saying the right thing at the right moment is beyond crucial. So crucial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/real-life-is-a-funny-thing-you-know-in-real-life-saying-the-right-3/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> [“So rather than risk saying the wrong thing, I said nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/so-rather-than-risk-saying-the-wrong-thing-i-said-nothing/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [We were wrong when we defined 'civility' as saying the wrong things the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/we-were-wrong-when-we-defined-civility-as-saying-the-wrong-things-the/)

[Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/)

> [I hope people will see how harmful words are and how irresponsible we can be when saying the wrong things at the wrong time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-david-washington/i-hope-people-will-see-how-harmful-words-are-and-how-irresponsible-we/)

[John David Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-david-washington/)

> [I think one of the things about creativity is not to be afraid of saying the wrong thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-brenner/i-think-one-of-the-things-about-creativity-is-not-to-be-afraid-of/)

[Sydney Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-brenner/)

> [“This is not your problem.” “You are my problem.” Now she stared at me like I asked to hump her leg. Perhaps I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/this-is-not-your-problem-you-are-my-problem-now-she-stared-at-me-like/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [“For Miles, one of the great mysteries of marriage was that you had to actually say things before you realized they were wrong. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/for-miles-one-of-the-great-mysteries-of-marriage-was-that-you-had-to/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [Hangman is great, it teaches you that by saying the wrong thing can end someone's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali/hangman-is-great-it-teaches-you-that-by-saying-the-wrong-thing-can/)

[Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali/)

> [I don't like getting myself in hot water. But suddenly I find that every minute I have to stop and think about what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-don-t-like-getting-myself-in-hot-water-but-suddenly-i-find-that/)

[Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/)

> [“Not all words are created equal. Different words have different impacts. And because communication is a process of mutual adaptation, of move and countermove,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helio-fred-garcia/not-all-words-are-created-equal-different-words-have-different/)

[Helio Fred Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helio-fred-garcia/)

> [Backstabbers specialize in saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to the wrong person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-parrott/backstabbers-specialize-in-saying-the-wrong-thing-at-the-wrong-time/)

[Les Parrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-parrott/)

## More by Sherrilyn Kenyon

> [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“You are my life.” -Maris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/you-are-my-life-maris/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-s-easy-to-make-mistakes-it-s-living-with-the-consequences-of-them/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“I don't know," Valerius said. " I hear some godawful kind of music from outside, horns blaring, and I'm in a house with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-don-t-know-valerius-said-i-hear-some-godawful-kind-of-music-from/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Got to say, dying would really wreck my best day. Been there, done that, and now that I think about it, Artemis forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/got-to-say-dying-would-really-wreck-my-best-day-been-there-done-that/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“Careful, human,” Hauk warned, showing Darling his fangs. “I might get hungry one of these nights and decide we no longer need a weaptech.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/careful-human-hauk-warned-showing-darling-his-fangs-i-might-get/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“Be that as it may, we do need you in particular to complete this assignment. (Syd) What is it with you government assholes that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/be-that-as-it-may-we-do-need-you-in-particular-to-complete-this/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [The only way to have eternal love is to never let your heart forget what it’s like to live without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/the-only-way-to-have-eternal-love-is-to-never-let-your-heart-forget/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“I'm only one kill away from Command Assassin. Be a damn shame for that kill to be you" (Darion)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-only-one-kill-away-from-command-assassin-be-a-damn-shame-for-that/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I’m getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the prospect of these demon things roaming the street, preying on us. (Tate)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-getting-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside-at-the-prospect-of-these-demon/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“Then Olympus it is. But do try to behave. I know it’s hard for you, but… (Delphine) I won’t piss on the floor. (Jericho)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/then-olympus-it-is-but-do-try-to-behave-i-know-it-s-hard-for-you-but/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Funny how internal scars never healed. They were the souvenirs of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/funny-how-internal-scars-never-healed-they-were-the-souvenirs-of-the/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“Hear me Isis as I pray. See her pain and take it all away. Let the heaven's light shine bright from above. And wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/hear-me-isis-as-i-pray-see-her-pain-and-take-it-all-away-let-the/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

[Explore all 3,050 Sherrilyn Kenyon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

## More Amanda quotes

> [I have seen what comes of being patient," Amanda said with a boding look. "And I have no opinion of it." "What does come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-have-seen-what-comes-of-being-patient-amanda-said-with-a-boding/)

[Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/)

> [I'd like to one day play Amanda, the mother, in The Glass Menagerie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernadette-peters/i-d-like-to-one-day-play-amanda-the-mother-in-the-glass-menagerie/)

[Bernadette Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernadette-peters/)

> [We got latched together and I was hoping you could separate us? (Amanda) They were made by your stepfather. Any chance you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/we-got-latched-together-and-i-was-hoping-you-could-separate-us-amanda/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“I can’t help but think that if she was going to kill herself, she might as well have done it earlier. Perhaps when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/i-can-t-help-but-think-that-if-she-was-going-to-kill-herself-she/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [So, you're like Angel? (Amanda) You watch way too much television. Angel has a soul. I don't. (Kyrian) Now you're back to being scary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/so-you-re-like-angel-amanda-you-watch-way-too-much-television-angel/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Amanda Ashley is a master storyteller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/amanda-ashley-is-a-master-storyteller/)

[Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/)

> [“What is a Dark-Hunter?" she asked. "Is it like Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" He laughed at that. "Yes, I'm a small, emaciated teenage girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-is-a-dark-hunter-she-asked-is-it-like-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [First of all, I would like to clear the air on one thing. Alison has slept with more men than Amanda; Sydney has slept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-locklear/first-of-all-i-would-like-to-clear-the-air-on-one-thing-alison-has/)

[Heather Locklear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-locklear/)

> [Black belt in Akihito. (Amanda) Any other time, I'd kiss you for that. (Kyrian)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/black-belt-in-akihito-amanda-any-other-time-i-d-kiss-you-for-that/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [ Everyone was at Martin Freeman’s house, and Martin was there and his wife was sat at his feet and Amanda \[Abbington, Freeman’s wife\] was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brealey/everyone-was-at-martin-freeman-s-house-and-martin-was-there-and-his/)

[Louise Brealey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brealey/)

> [The magical descriptions of Italy and hilarious observations about love, travel, natives and foreigners in Love in Idleness are but a few of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/the-magical-descriptions-of-italy-and-hilarious-observations-about/)

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> [When you get to work with great people like on our movie, Blake and Ellen Burstyn and Harrison and Kathy Baker, Amanda Crew, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiel-huisman/when-you-get-to-work-with-great-people-like-on-our-movie-blake-and/)

[Michiel Huisman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiel-huisman/)

> [Can you just saw his arm off while we're here and get me loose? (Amanda) I could do that, but he needs his more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/can-you-just-saw-his-arm-off-while-we-re-here-and-get-me-loose-amanda/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Knock, knock. You have the day to hide. Come nightfall, we hunt. (Desiderius) Yeah, yeah...you and your little dog, too. (Kyrian) You're not scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/knock-knock-you-have-the-day-to-hide-come-nightfall-we-hunt/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“You have no idea of what you are doing to me,” he warned. She smiled. “Are you trying to frighten me? Because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-quick/you-have-no-idea-of-what-you-are-doing-to-me-he-warned-she-smiled-are/)

[Amanda Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-quick/)

Browse all 88 Amanda quotes

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