--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think I must be smiling at him because…" description: "\"“I think I must be smiling at him because he's smiling at me, but he's smiling like he might be petrified; he's breathing like he's forgotten he's supp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/tahereh-mafi-229_smiling_i-think-i-must-be-smiling-at-him-because_1903518.png" --- # I think I must be smiling at him because he's smiling at… ![“I think I must be smiling at him because he's smiling at me, but he's smiling like he might be petrified; he's breathing like he's forgotten he's supposed to, looking at me like he's not sure how to do this, hesitating like he's unsure how to let me see him like this. Like he has no idea how to be…” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/tahereh-mafi-229_smiling_i-think-i-must-be-smiling-at-him-because_1903518.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/tahereh-mafi-229_smiling_i-think-i-must-be-smiling-at-him-because_1903518.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ef/tahereh-mafi-229_smiling_i-think-i-must-be-smiling-at-him-because_1903518.png) > ““I think I must be smiling at him because he's smiling at me, but he's smiling like he might be petrified; he's breathing like he's forgotten he's supposed to, looking at me like he's not sure how to do this, hesitating like he's unsure how to let me see him like this. Like he has no idea how to be so vulnerable. But here he is. And here I am.”” [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 passage captures a moment of mutual vulnerability and tentative connection, where both participants are unsure how to express themselves openly. **In simple terms:** Two people are shyly opening up to each other. Key Takeaway Embrace the courage to be vulnerable. Themes vulnerability connection intimacy self‑discovery Mood tender reflective Type narrative emotional intimate When to use this quote - first dates - confessional conversations - artistic collaborations - therapeutic sessions Key Concepts emotional honesty social anxiety nonverbal communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you signal genuine openness without fear? - What does vulnerability teach you about yourself? A Different Perspective Both may be masking fear with smiles, limiting true intimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiling/) ## Related quotes > [I looked at her, and she was smiling like she was broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-looked-at-her-and-she-was-smiling-like-she-was-broken/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I didn't noticed that I'm smiling like an idiot here while re-reading our conversations..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-didn-t-noticed-that-i-m-smiling-like-an-idiot-here-while-re-reading/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me!! (: Smiling like crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/me-smiling-like-crazy/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [No matter what people think of you…always keep smiling and walk away:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-what-people-think-of-you-always-keep-smiling-and-walk-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You may think I'm smiling because I'm over it, but I'm smiling because I've found a way to kill you and make it look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-may-think-i-m-smiling-because-i-m-over-it-but-i-m-smiling-because/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I think anyone smiling and happy is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-think-anyone-smiling-and-happy-is-beautiful/) [Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/) > [“I can’t look at a stranger’s face and think, She’s smiling just like Amy. When Amy smiles like that she’s happy, so this person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/i-can-t-look-at-a-stranger-s-face-and-think-she-s-smiling-just-like/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [I think everyone can make a difference, I think even smiling at someone in the morning can make her day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manushi-chhillar/i-think-everyone-can-make-a-difference-i-think-even-smiling-at/) [Manushi Chhillar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manushi-chhillar/) > [Sometimes all it takes is a smile to make everything feel better... I smile to the sky and I think of you... Smiling has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-harrington/sometimes-all-it-takes-is-a-smile-to-make-everything-feel-better-i/) [Chelsea Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-harrington/) > [I am hesitating about joining politics since I know the difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajinikanth/i-am-hesitating-about-joining-politics-since-i-know-the-difficulties/) [Rajinikanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajinikanth/) > [“it should be, but you’re still hesitating. Why?” “I’m afraid of losing who I am, and being only what he lets me be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-renee-jones/it-should-be-but-you-re-still-hesitating-why-i-m-afraid-of-losing-who/) [Lisa Renee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-renee-jones/) > [“You may, but that’s not what the judge will be expecting.” Hesitating, I added, “I’m”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-may-but-that-s-not-what-the-judge-will-be-expecting-hesitating-i/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Because my time is limited, I dont have any time to waste hesitating. That is why I can walk straight ahead. That is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrono-crusade/because-my-time-is-limited-i-dont-have-any-time-to-waste-hesitating/) Chrono Crusade > [If there were a button I could press, I would sacrifice myself without hesitating, if it meant millions of people would die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pentti-linkola/if-there-were-a-button-i-could-press-i-would-sacrifice-myself-without/) [Pentti Linkola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pentti-linkola/) > [I'm not hesitating on that. I am a Hall of Famer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mcnabb/i-m-not-hesitating-on-that-i-am-a-hall-of-famer/) [Donovan McNabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mcnabb/) ## 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/) ## More Smiling quotes > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) Adam Imad > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [“Now they are both looking at me and smiling. Carly’s smile is so bold, so certain. Jenni’s is tentative, flashing wide for a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-robson/now-they-are-both-looking-at-me-and-smiling-carly-s-smile-is-so-bold/) Amanda Robson > [If you are psychic you may see that the smiling faces aren't smiling at all, inside. You can eliminate those individuals from your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-are-psychic-you-may-see-that-the-smiling-faces-aren-t-smiling/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Every night I go to sleep smiling, even when I have a bad day. I'm just thankful that God allowed me to live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-i-go-to-sleep-smiling-even-when-i-have-a-bad-day-i-m-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“i hope that whoever you are wherever you are and no matter how you are feeling you will always have something to smile about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/i-hope-that-whoever-you-are-wherever-you-are-and-no-matter-how-you/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) > [“I just want to see those I love smiling and happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-okouchi/i-just-want-to-see-those-i-love-smiling-and-happy/) [Ichiro Okouchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-okouchi/) > [For once I feel appreciated and not someone to show off constantly smiling and knowing how amazing you are, I just want make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-once-i-feel-appreciated-and-not-someone-to-show-off-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter what happens, always keep smiling, because no matter what, everything will get better from there. And if you can do that, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan/no-matter-what-happens-always-keep-smiling-because-no-matter-what/) Meghan > [I just wanted to remind you that I love you alot and thank God everyday for blessing me with a friend that is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-wanted-to-remind-you-that-i-love-you-alot-and-thank-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles. What do we live for if not to make the world less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/wear-a-smile-and-have-friends-wear-a-scowl-and-have-wrinkles-what-do/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Where I came from, just nodding and smiling when someone expressed views was the ultimate insult. If people weren't yelling about politics in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-emanuel/where-i-came-from-just-nodding-and-smiling-when-someone-expressed/) [Ezekiel Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-emanuel/) > [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/) Alan Sheinwald > [I like to have a good time. I'm playing a great game, so why should I stop smiling when I get on the field?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-edmonds/i-like-to-have-a-good-time-i-m-playing-a-great-game-so-why-should-i/) [Jim Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-edmonds/) > [Just smiling even you are actually crying on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reny/just-smiling-even-you-are-actually-crying-on-the-inside/) [Reny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reny/) [Browse all 1,533 Smiling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think I must be smiling at him because he's smiling at me, but he's smiling like he might be petrified; he's breathing like he's forgotten he's supposed to, looking at me like he's not sure how to do this, hesitating like he's unsure how to let me see him like this. Like he has no idea how to be so vulnerable. But here he is. 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