--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if…" description: "\"“And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if St. Clair and I never become more than friends. His friendship alone has strengthened me in a way that no on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/stephanie-perkins-482_anna_and-i-realize-it-s-okay-it-s-okay-if-st_2552584.jpg" --- # And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if St. Clair and I… ![“And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if St. Clair and I never become more than friends. His friendship alone has strengthened me in a way that no one else’s ever has. He swept me from my room and showed me independence. In other words, he was exactly what I needed. I won’t forget it. And I…” quote by Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/stephanie-perkins-482_anna_and-i-realize-it-s-okay-it-s-okay-if-st_2552584.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/stephanie-perkins-482_anna_and-i-realize-it-s-okay-it-s-okay-if-st_2552584.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/stephanie-perkins-482_anna_and-i-realize-it-s-okay-it-s-okay-if-st_2552584.jpg) > ““And I realize ... it’s okay. It’s okay if St. Clair and I never become more than friends. His friendship alone has strengthened me in a way that no one else’s ever has. He swept me from my room and showed me independence. In other words, he was exactly what I needed. I won’t forget it. And I certainly don’t want to lose it.”” [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## 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 values a deep friendship that offers personal growth and independence, even without romantic involvement. **In simple terms:** Friendship can be transformative and empowering. Key Takeaway Cherish and nurture supportive friendships. Themes friendship growth independence gratitude Mood reflective appreciative Type literary emotional When to use this quote - college life - moving away - new relationships - self‑discovery Key Concepts personal development emotional support Questions to Reflect On - How has a friend helped you become more independent? - What boundaries keep a friendship healthy? A Different Perspective Friendship may not replace romantic love, leading to lingering longing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anna-and-the-french-kiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anna-and-the-french-kiss/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-a-little-distracted-by-this-english-french-american-boy/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I risk a glance, and St. Clair stares back. Deeply. He has not looked at me like this before. I turn away first, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-risk-a-glance-and-st-clair-stares-back-deeply-he-has-not-looked-at/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“His eyes lock on mine."Anna,I promise that I will never leave you." My heart pounds in response.And Étienne knows it,because he takes my hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/his-eyes-lock-on-mine-anna-i-promise-that-i-will-never-leave-you-my/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I trail my fingers across his cheek. He stays perfectly still for me. “Please stop apologizing, Étienne.” “Say my name again,” he whispers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-trail-my-fingers-across-his-cheek-he-stays-perfectly-still-for-me/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“That guys. Sideburns. You like him?" My back squirms. "You've asked me that before." "What I meant was," he says, flustered. "Your feelings haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/that-guys-sideburns-you-like-him-my-back-squirms-you-ve-asked-me-that/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Confidence, darling." He leans across the table and touches a finger to my cheek. "You could learn something from me, you know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/confidence-darling-he-leans-across-the-table-and-touches-a-finger-to/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I'm sorry," he says. "What? Why?" "You're fixing everything I set down." He nods at my hands, which are readjusting the elephant. "It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-sorry-he-says-what-why-you-re-fixing-everything-i-set-down-he/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“When I come back, the club is packed. There's hardly any standing room. Anna snagged a wooden bar stool, one of the few seats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/when-i-come-back-the-club-is-packed-there-s-hardly-any-standing-room/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I'm the last one in the dark, until- suddenly- it happens. St. Clair removes something from his pocket. And then he gets down on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-the-last-one-in-the-dark-until-suddenly-it-happens-st-clair/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Our bond of friendship strengthened over the year, and we became kindred spirits, even before we found love in each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/our-bond-of-friendship-strengthened-over-the-year-and-we-became/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [Friendship is strengthened by...that which ever so lightly elevates us from the trough of self-concern and self-devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/friendship-is-strengthened-by-that-which-ever-so-lightly-elevates-us/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [“A faint, high pitched scream came from Etienne's pocket, accompanied by a drumbeat. "There are squirrels in my pants!" a girl cried as Phineas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-duvall/a-faint-high-pitched-scream-came-from-etienne-s-pocket-accompanied-by/) [Dianne Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-duvall/) > [“And yet she can tell he is visited by fears so immense, so multiple, that she can almost feel the terror pulsing inside him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/and-yet-she-can-tell-he-is-visited-by-fears-so-immense-so-multiple/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [The wise man does not permit himself to set up even in his own mind any comparisons of his friends. His friendship is capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dudley-warner/the-wise-man-does-not-permit-himself-to-set-up-even-in-his-own-mind/) [Charles Dudley Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dudley-warner/) > [There aren't enough songs about how you feel about your friends. Friendship's far more complicated than a romantic relationship, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/there-aren-t-enough-songs-about-how-you-feel-about-your-friends/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) ## More by Stephanie Perkins > [“This warmth over the telephone. Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place? Bridgette used to be home to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/this-warmth-over-the-telephone-is-it-possible-for-home-to-be-a-person/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I wasn't being a git. I wasn't even being a twat, or a wanker, or any of your other bleeding Briticisms -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-wasn-t-being-a-git-i-wasn-t-even-being-a-twat-or-a-wanker-or-any-of/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You said on my birthday that you were afraid of being alone, but I’ve been here this whole time. This whole time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-said-on-my-birthday-that-you-were-afraid-of-being-alone-but-i-ve/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Lola: Do you think things have to be easy? For it to work? Cricket: NO. I mean, yes, but... sometimes there are... extenuating circumstances.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/lola-do-you-think-things-have-to-be-easy-for-it-to-work-cricket-no-i/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Sometimes a mistake isn't a what. It's a who.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/sometimes-a-mistake-isn-t-a-what-it-s-a-who/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“And that. Why don’t you call me Étienne anymore?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-that-why-don-t-you-call-me-tienne-anymore/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Thanks. I forgot how to flip off the English. I'll use the correct hand gesture next time." "My pleasure. Always happy to educate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/thanks-i-forgot-how-to-flip-off-the-english-i-ll-use-the-correct-hand/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Beautiful. He called me beautiful! But wait. I don't like Dave. Do I like Dave?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/beautiful-he-called-me-beautiful-but-wait-i-don-t-like-dave-do-i-like/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You can't undo loss. You can't unmake a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-can-t-undo-loss-you-can-t-unmake-a-mistake/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“They didn’t talk much, but their silence was companionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/they-didn-t-talk-much-but-their-silence-was-companionable/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“We're enveloped in pitch black. "Wait here," I whisper. "Are you getting your ax?" "Handcuffs." "Kinky. But, okay, I'll try it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/we-re-enveloped-in-pitch-black-wait-here-i-whisper-are-you-getting/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“And, suddenly, I want to touch him. Not a push, or a shove, or even a friendly hug. I want to feel the creases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-suddenly-i-want-to-touch-him-not-a-push-or-a-shove-or-even-a/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“My face is round, and my cheeks are pinchable, and my ears stick out farther than I'd like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/my-face-is-round-and-my-cheeks-are-pinchable-and-my-ears-stick-out/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“There's something about blue eyes. The kind of blue that startles you every time they're lifted in your direction. The kind of blue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/there-s-something-about-blue-eyes-the-kind-of-blue-that-startles-you/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-a-little-distracted-by-this-english-french-american-boy/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) [Explore all 500 Stephanie Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## More Anna quotes > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Anna Petrovna: Never talk to women about your own good qualities. Let them find out for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/anna-petrovna-never-talk-to-women-about-your-own-good-qualities-let/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“I stole glances at Kaidan's bare skin while the others were busy talking. That's my boyfriend right there, I silently announced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-stole-glances-at-kaidan-s-bare-skin-while-the-others-were-busy/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [On Sergei Fedorov's breaking three sticks on Dallas players: I don't know if Anna (Kournikova) told him to get tougher or what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-modano/on-sergei-fedorov-s-breaking-three-sticks-on-dallas-players-i-don-t/) Mike Modano > [“Where are we going?” she asked. “Mr. Durbin’s sheep have begun to lamb, and I wanted to see how the ewes are doing.” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/where-are-we-going-she-asked-mr-durbin-s-sheep-have-begun-to-lamb-and/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [In fiction, imaginary people become realer to us than any named celebrity glimpsed in a series of rumored events, whose causes and subtler ramifications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/in-fiction-imaginary-people-become-realer-to-us-than-any-named/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Girls, on the other hand, have always come easy. I don't know why that is, exactly. Maybe it's the outsider vibe and a well-placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/girls-on-the-other-hand-have-always-come-easy-i-don-t-know-why-that/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [Anna would be just as happy with me if I were a plumber. As a matter of fact, when she married me, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/anna-would-be-just-as-happy-with-me-if-i-were-a-plumber-as-a-matter/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [“I suppose that means you don’t want any band-aids, either,” I said, a touch more bitterly than I’d meant to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/i-suppose-that-means-you-don-t-want-any-band-aids-either-i-said-a/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [“My physical eyes are like sunglasses, filtering out the colors, but when I'm out here, the aura that emanates from every living thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rosati/my-physical-eyes-are-like-sunglasses-filtering-out-the-colors-but/) Gina Rosati > [“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-a-little-distracted-by-this-english-french-american-boy/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Anna is the sort of woman who writers write about, Tom. Somewhere in the third act, women like her save characters like you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/anna-is-the-sort-of-woman-who-writers-write-about-tom-somewhere-in/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [I'm really glad that I'm not Anna because I don't want to be there again. I've been there. But when something does happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-m-really-glad-that-i-m-not-anna-because-i-don-t-want-to-be-there/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [“The whole of that day Anna spent at home, that's to say at the Oblonskys', and received no one, though some of her acquaintances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-whole-of-that-day-anna-spent-at-home-that-s-to-say-at-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The most common thing that I get is, ‘Am I the only one who doesn’t think that Anna Kendrick is pretty? And youre like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/the-most-common-thing-that-i-get-is-am-i-the-only-one-who-doesn-t/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) Browse all 351 Anna quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And I realize ... it’s okay. 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