--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table…" description: "\"“I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table to keep from falling. The diners stare in alarm, but I don't care. I'm reeling, and I gasp for air. How can I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/stephanie-perkins-482_falling_i-grip-the-edge-of-a-sidewalk-cafe-table_2802333.jpg" --- # I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table to keep from… ![“I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table to keep from falling. The diners stare in alarm, but I don't care. I'm reeling, and I gasp for air. How can I have been so stupid? How could I have ever for a moment believed I wasn't in love with him?” quote by Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/stephanie-perkins-482_falling_i-grip-the-edge-of-a-sidewalk-cafe-table_2802333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/stephanie-perkins-482_falling_i-grip-the-edge-of-a-sidewalk-cafe-table_2802333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/901/stephanie-perkins-482_falling_i-grip-the-edge-of-a-sidewalk-cafe-table_2802333.jpg) > ““I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table to keep from falling. The diners stare in alarm, but I don't care. I'm reeling, and I gasp for air. How can I have been so stupid? How could I have ever for a moment believed I wasn't in love with him?”” [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 clings to a café table to avoid falling, feeling dizzy and in love, illustrating how love can make us feel unsteady yet reckless. **In simple terms:** Love makes you feel unsteady and reckless. Key Takeaway Accept vulnerability as part of love. Themes romance vulnerability recklessness Mood anxious passionate Type fictional emotional When to use this quote - first dates - intense relationships - public spaces Key Concepts emotional turbulence self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does love affect your sense of balance? - When did love make you act recklessly? A Different Perspective Love can cloud judgment and lead to danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling/) [Falling Diners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-diners-3458726/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Moment Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-believed-327668/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-moment-933423/) ## Related quotes > [How could I have ever for a moment believed I wasn't in love with him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/how-could-i-have-ever-for-a-moment-believed-i-wasn-t-in-love-with-him/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [The stupid moment when you can't decide, 'Am I hungry, or just bored?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-stupid-moment-when-you-can-t-decide-am-i-hungry-or-just-bored/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Just another stupid moment people have to make last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/just-another-stupid-moment-people-have-to-make-last-forever/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Sydney to Grant: If I can forgive you for turning my life upside down, then can't you forgive me for one stupid moment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brynna-gabrielson/sydney-to-grant-if-i-can-forgive-you-for-turning-my-life-upside-down/) [Brynna Gabrielson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brynna-gabrielson/) > [“I remember that we didn't really know what we were doing, that I felt two sizes too big for my skin, that my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-remember-that-we-didn-t-really-know-what-we-were-doing-that-i-felt/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“for one precious moment, I believed everything she did was because of love. but now love and power are both shouting their names. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-whitman/for-one-precious-moment-i-believed-everything-she-did-was-because-of/) [Emily Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-whitman/) > [She knew that what Marianne and her mother conjectured one moment, they believed the next: that with them, to wish was to hope, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/she-knew-that-what-marianne-and-her-mother-conjectured-one-moment/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I wish the world would swallow us here, whole, in this moment. And that's when it hits me that this - this - is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-wish-the-world-would-swallow-us-here-whole-in-this-moment-and-that/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do à but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/falling-in-love-is-not-at-all-the-most-stupid-thing-that-people-do/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [I want to thank each and every one of you for having extinguished yourselves this session.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gib-lewis/i-want-to-thank-each-and-every-one-of-you-for-having-extinguished/) [Gib Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gib-lewis/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) [Kelseigh Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelseigh-ashton/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [What if I tell you I'm falling again? what if I tell you I'm willing to stand there till you notice me again? what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-falling-again-what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-willing/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) ## 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 Falling quotes > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [What if I tell you I'm falling again? what if I tell you I'm willing to stand there till you notice me again? what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-falling-again-what-if-i-tell-you-i-m-willing/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [“We will all, at some point in our lives, fall. Every single one of us. We shouldn't spend our time trying to avoid falling.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/we-will-all-at-some-point-in-our-lives-fall-every-single-one-of-us-we/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) [Kelseigh Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelseigh-ashton/) > [They say that if you give your children too much, they don't get the joy out of work. They just want the unearned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rinehart/they-say-that-if-you-give-your-children-too-much-they-don-t-get-the/) [Gina Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rinehart/) > [Falling for someone who will never notice you no matter how hard you try to get their attention...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/falling-for-someone-who-will-never-notice-you-no-matter-how-hard-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Falling in love is not the problem; hitting your head on the way down is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/falling-in-love-is-not-the-problem-hitting-your-head-on-the-way-down/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/maybe-tonight-you-re-scared-of-falling-and-maybe-there-s-somebody/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [Sometimes when things seem to be falling apart, they are actually falling into place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-when-things-seem-to-be-falling-apart-they-are-actually/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The tides which flow and lapse in the Bristol Channel are often distained by the freshets of many streams falling through wooded coombes below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/the-tides-which-flow-and-lapse-in-the-bristol-channel-are-often/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [Remember those walls I built? Well, baby they're tumbling down And they didn't even put up a fight They didn't even make a sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prettyblueeyes/remember-those-walls-i-built-well-baby-they-re-tumbling-down-and-they/) [PrettyBlueEyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prettyblueeyes/) > [“When you were young you talked about "falling in love" with such amusing gravity, as if it were an actual recordable event, when what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-moriarty/when-you-were-young-you-talked-about-falling-in-love-with-such/) [Liane Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-moriarty/) [Browse all 2,510 Falling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I grip the edge of a sidewalk cafe table to keep from falling. The diners stare in alarm, but I don't care. I'm reeling, and I gasp for air. How can I have been so stupid? 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