--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As soon as the words presented…" description: "\"“As soon as the words presented themselves, Gabriel knew that they were perfect for him. Perfect for what he was contemplating doing to her. Perfect fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/sylvain-reynard-765_gabriel-s-inferno_as-soon-as-the-words-presented-themselve_315635.jpg" --- # As soon as the words presented themselves, Gabriel knew… ![“As soon as the words presented themselves, Gabriel knew that they were perfect for him. Perfect for what he was contemplating doing to her. Perfect for his own self-justification. Tasting. Taking. Sucking. Sinning. Draining. Abandoning. She was pure. She was innocent. He wanted her. Facilis…” quote by Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/sylvain-reynard-765_gabriel-s-inferno_as-soon-as-the-words-presented-themselve_315635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/sylvain-reynard-765_gabriel-s-inferno_as-soon-as-the-words-presented-themselve_315635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/sylvain-reynard-765_gabriel-s-inferno_as-soon-as-the-words-presented-themselve_315635.jpg) > ““As soon as the words presented themselves, Gabriel knew that they were perfect for him. Perfect for what he was contemplating doing to her. Perfect for his own self-justification. Tasting. Taking. Sucking. Sinning. Draining. Abandoning. She was pure. She was innocent. He wanted her. Facilis descensus Averni. But he would not be the one to make her bleed. He could not, would not, make another girl bleed for the rest of his life. All thoughts of seduction and mad, passionate f\*cking on desks and chairs, against walls and bookshelves and windows, immediately gave way. He would not take her. He would not mark her and claim what he had no right to claim.”” [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man struggles with desire versus conscience, choosing restraint over harming another. **In simple terms:** He resists harming a woman despite intense lust. Key Takeaway Choose moral restraint over selfish impulse. Themes desire conscience restraint power sexuality Mood conflicted tense reflective Type narrative psychological When to use this quote - romantic pursuit - workplace flirtation - personal boundaries - sexual temptation Key Concepts ethical dilemma self‑control objectification Questions to Reflect On - What internal conflicts justify restraint? - How does power affect consent? A Different Perspective His self‑justification may mask deeper misogyny. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gabriel/) [Gabriel-s-inferno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gabriel-s-inferno/) [Sylvain-reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sylvain-reynard/) ## Related quotes > [“She’d made her choice when he asked for her hand and she’d offered it without question. Once he touched her, she knew she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-d-made-her-choice-when-he-asked-for-her-hand-and-she-d-offered-it/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Mr. Emerson watched, almost breathless, as she swirled the wine in her glass expertly, then lifted it so that she could examine it more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/mr-emerson-watched-almost-breathless-as-she-swirled-the-wine-in-her/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Let me feed you,” he whispered, his tone suddenly husky. He sounded like sex. Or at least, what Julia imagined sex would sound like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/let-me-feed-you-he-whispered-his-tone-suddenly-husky-he-sounded-like/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“But he was not her Gabriel. Her Gabriel was dead. Gone. Leaving behind only vestiges of him in the body of a harsh and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/but-he-was-not-her-gabriel-her-gabriel-was-dead-gone-leaving-behind/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I like your…outfit.” His eyes took in the naked flesh that was visible below the edge of the shirttail. “I like your outfit too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-like-your-outfit-his-eyes-took-in-the-naked-flesh-that-was-visible/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Why do you do that?” he whispered, after a few minutes. “Do what?” “Provoke me.” “I don’t…I…I’m not provoking you. I’m stating a fact.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/why-do-you-do-that-he-whispered-after-a-few-minutes-do-what-provoke/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I care for you-you're precious to me. And one of the most precious things to me is your voice. Please tell me what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-care-for-you-you-re-precious-to-me-and-one-of-the-most-precious/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I want to make love to you because I care about you. I want to worship your naked body with my own and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-want-to-make-love-to-you-because-i-care-about-you-i-want-to-worship/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“In addition to her boulangerie and fromagerie French, she knew enough of the language to realize that the title of Rodin’s sculpture, Le Baiser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/in-addition-to-her-boulangerie-and-fromagerie-french-she-knew-enough/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Love hath so long possess'd me for his own And made his lordship so familiar That he, who at first irk'd me, is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/love-hath-so-long-possess-d-me-for-his-own-and-made-his-lordship-so/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I’ve always had a terrible weakness for beautiful but sad things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-ve-always-had-a-terrible-weakness-for-beautiful-but-sad-things/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“The Angelfucker strikes again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/the-angelfucker-strikes-again/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Julia closed her eyes and concentrated on the words to Lacrimosa, sung loudly and hauntingly by the multi-voice choir in Latin… Day of Weeping,on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/julia-closed-her-eyes-and-concentrated-on-the-words-to-lacrimosa-sung/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Open your eyes.” Julia looked up into a pair of blue orbs that were startlingly clear and very emotional, but she could not decipher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/open-your-eyes-julia-looked-up-into-a-pair-of-blue-orbs-that-were/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Think about it. We are fed in the Eucharist, by our mothers when we are infants, by our parents as children, by friends at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/think-about-it-we-are-fed-in-the-eucharist-by-our-mothers-when-we-are/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## More by Sylvain Reynard > [“She knew that upon closer inspection Gabriel would make a lousy poker player. He had too many tells, too many ways he revealed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-knew-that-upon-closer-inspection-gabriel-would-make-a-lousy-poker/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Then you’re going to take off your suit and show me just how much you missed your phone cord.” “And the attachment.” “And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/then-you-re-going-to-take-off-your-suit-and-show-me-just-how-much-you/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Don't wait too long. Life takes unexpected turns, and we don't always have the time we think we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/don-t-wait-too-long-life-takes-unexpected-turns-and-we-don-t-always/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“She just wanted to be left alone to lick her wounds, like a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-just-wanted-to-be-left-alone-to-lick-her-wounds-like-a-puppy-that/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I'm sorry you don't want to know me anymore. I will spend the rest of my life regretting the fact that I wasted my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-m-sorry-you-don-t-want-to-know-me-anymore-i-will-spend-the-rest-of/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“This was the joy that the world sought--sacred and pagan all at once. A union between two dissimilars into a seamless one. A picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/this-was-the-joy-that-the-world-sought-sacred-and-pagan-all-at-once-a/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“He was distressed to learn that the Pottery Barn Kids gift registry did not extend to children's books in Italian or Yiddish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/he-was-distressed-to-learn-that-the-pottery-barn-kids-gift-registry/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“She’d made her choice when he asked for her hand and she’d offered it without question. Once he touched her, she knew she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-d-made-her-choice-when-he-asked-for-her-hand-and-she-d-offered-it/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Like they’d never seen a hot professor before. You made quite an impression in your turtleneck.” “Ah, yes, the turtleneck. Turtles have that effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/like-they-d-never-seen-a-hot-professor-before-you-made-quite-an/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I don’t know how to love you any other way, either,” she whispered back. “Then God have mercy on us both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-don-t-know-how-to-love-you-any-other-way-either-she-whispered-back/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“You toyed with her heart. I know what that’s like. I can have compassion for her because of that.” “I met you first,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-toyed-with-her-heart-i-know-what-that-s-like-i-can-have/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Apparuit iam beatitudo vestra' That is, "Now your blessedness appears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/apparuit-iam-beatitudo-vestra-that-is-now-your-blessedness-appears/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“You tell him that — tell him he fucks with the angel at his peril.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-tell-him-that-tell-him-he-fucks-with-the-angel-at-his-peril/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Ever had a beer before?" Gabriel grinned. She shook her head. "Then I'm glad I'm your first." "Have you ever held a boy's hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/ever-had-a-beer-before-gabriel-grinned-she-shook-her-head-then-i-m/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Chivalry in academia is dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/chivalry-in-academia-is-dead/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) [Explore all 332 Sylvain Reynard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## More Gabriel quotes > [“…and suddenly I love you beyond all measure is not just words but a heart, a soul bursting open, a stripping raw of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linnea-sinclair/and-suddenly-i-love-you-beyond-all-measure-is-not-just-words-but-a/) [Linnea Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linnea-sinclair/) > [“Wait, is this a nice-ish way of telling me we had sex and I was lousy? That's how you can tell I'm inexperienced? Because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/wait-is-this-a-nice-ish-way-of-telling-me-we-had-sex-and-i-was-lousy/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I think that it's important to try to keep reality. I think that Gabriel Garcia Marquez speaks a lot about reality in his magical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/i-think-that-it-s-important-to-try-to-keep-reality-i-think-that/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [I'm a huge stadium rock fan, but I'm also a fan of everything from Massive Attack to Peter Gabriel, U2, the Police, Radiohead, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/i-m-a-huge-stadium-rock-fan-but-i-m-also-a-fan-of-everything-from/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [Sit, Phantom!" Ivy cooed. "On your bottom!" "Oh, for goodness' sake!" Gabriel put down his book and pointed a longer finger at Phantom. "Sit,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/sit-phantom-ivy-cooed-on-your-bottom-oh-for-goodness-sake-gabriel-put/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [Gabriel pulled her over his body to lie on the bed beside him. His kisses pressed her down into the oblivion of the mattress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-curtis-klause/gabriel-pulled-her-over-his-body-to-lie-on-the-bed-beside-him-his/) [Annette Curtis Klause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-curtis-klause/) > [“But Gabriel saw people talking to the sky, the sky replying. And he knew he had to learn this dance. Someday soon, he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomson-highway/but-gabriel-saw-people-talking-to-the-sky-the-sky-replying-and-he/) [Tomson Highway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomson-highway/) > [Gabriel's voice can reach me anywhere. Even in a hurricane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/gabriel-s-voice-can-reach-me-anywhere-even-in-a-hurricane/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [“Gabriel drew the strength up his calves and thighs to spin himself in a dizzying turn. Most angels didn’t take the time to train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-flowers/gabriel-drew-the-strength-up-his-calves-and-thighs-to-spin-himself-in/) [A.J. Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-flowers/) > [So here comes Gabriel again, and what he says is "Good tidings of great joy ... for all people." ... That's why the shepherds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wangerin/so-here-comes-gabriel-again-and-what-he-says-is-good-tidings-of-great/) [Walter Wangerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wangerin/) > [“You toyed with her heart. I know what that’s like. I can have compassion for her because of that.” “I met you first,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-toyed-with-her-heart-i-know-what-that-s-like-i-can-have/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I love you, Francesca,” Gabriel told her solemnly. “I cannot express in words what you are to me.” She smiled up at him. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-love-you-francesca-gabriel-told-her-solemnly-i-cannot-express-in/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [So it's not really whether you talk about politics, but how well were you able to do it. Peter Gabriel and Sting get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-browne/so-it-s-not-really-whether-you-talk-about-politics-but-how-well-were/) [Jackson Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-browne/) > [“Gabriel Edward Mackie, born with soulful maturity and an intrinsic sense of empathy, gazed at life through a poetic contemplative lens relishing the plangent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodee-neathery/gabriel-edward-mackie-born-with-soulful-maturity-and-an-intrinsic/) [JoDee Neathery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodee-neathery/) > [“of myself right off the bat? If that doesn’t send her running back to me, I don’t know what will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-brookshire/of-myself-right-off-the-bat-if-that-doesn-t-send-her-running-back-to/) [April Brookshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-brookshire/) [Browse all 308 Gabriel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gabriel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As soon as the words presented themselves, Gabriel knew that they were perfect for him. Perfect for what he was contemplating doing to her. Perfect for his own self-justification. Tasting. Taking. Sucking. Sinning. Draining. Abandoning. She was pure. She was innocent. He wanted her. Facilis descensus Averni. But he would not be the one to make her bleed. He could not, would not, make another girl bleed for the rest of his life. 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