--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm checking my pockets for spare words…" description: "\"“I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I'm finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition or even a dangling participle because the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg" --- # I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but… ![“I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I'm finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition or even a dangling participle because there doesn't exist a single response to such an outlandish request.” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg) > ““I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I'm finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition or even a dangling participle because there doesn't exist a single response to such an outlandish request.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## 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 struggles to find words, illustrating a creative block when faced with an absurd request. **In simple terms:** Writer feels stuck for words. Key Takeaway Embrace creative limits and seek new inspiration. Themes creativity language blocks absurdity Mood frustrated introspective Type literary self-reflection When to use this quote - authoring - brainstorming - literary challenges Key Concepts writing process self-doubt Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your creative block? - How can you overcome linguistic constraints? A Different Perspective Focusing on lack may hinder productivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Checking Pockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checking-pockets-600186/) [Dangling Participle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangling-participle-600185/) [Participle Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participle-doesn-600187/) [Pockets Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pockets-spare-600188/) [Spare Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spare-words-600184/) ## Related quotes > [“I saw an old guy sleeping, and I thought he was dead. But I kept checking his pockets for money, because it seemed like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-saw-an-old-guy-sleeping-and-i-thought-he-was-dead-but-i-kept/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I don't really know what an adverb is. A dangling participle? That sounds really rude. I don't know what character is, really. Plot seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-don-t-really-know-what-an-adverb-is-a-dangling-participle-that/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“Look at him, he’s slain another dangling participle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-coryell/look-at-him-he-s-slain-another-dangling-participle/) [Skip Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-coryell/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I'm finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition or even a dangling participle because there doesn't exist a single response to such an outlandish request.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tahereh Mafi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words-and-sentences-but-i-m-finding/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Spare Words" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words-and-sentences-but-i-m-finding/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tahereh-mafi-229_spare-words_i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words_1644885.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm checking my pockets for spare words and sentences but I'm finding none, not an adverb, not a preposition…” — Tahereh Mafi", "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": "Tahereh Mafi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I'm checking my pockets for spare...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words-and-sentences-but-i-m-finding/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-m-checking-my-pockets-for-spare-words-and-sentences-but-i-m-finding/#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 } } ] } ```