---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I…"
description: "\"“I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize every curve of her face. I wanted the image burned so deeply in my memory that when I closed ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg"
---

#  I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize…

![“I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize every curve of her face. I wanted the image burned so deeply in my memory that when I closed my eyes to sleep at night, she would be the last thing I saw and the first person on my mind when I woke.” quote by Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg)

> ““I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize every curve of her face. I wanted the image burned so deeply in my memory that when I closed my eyes to sleep at night, she would be the last thing I saw and the first person on my mind when I woke.””

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Intense focus on a loved one’s image can embed them deeply in memory, influencing thoughts and dreams.

**In simple terms:** Memorizing a face makes them unforgettable.

Key Takeaway

Use focused attention to cherish important relationships.

Themes

memory love obsession

Mood

nostalgic introspective

Type

romantic psychological

When to use this quote

- relationship building
- memory techniques
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

Visual imprint emotional attachment cognitive fixation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does constant mental focus affect emotional health?
- Can we remember without becoming obsessed?

A Different Perspective

Over‑fixation may hinder emotional balance and objectivity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[First person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-person/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/)

## Related quotes

> [“I forced my eyes open and saw the image that’s haunted me every day for the past years of my life. And every day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-thebart/i-forced-my-eyes-open-and-saw-the-image-that-s-haunted-me-every-day/)

[Liz Thebart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-thebart/)

> [“No kind of writing lodges itself so deeply in our memory, echoing there for the rest of our lives, as the books that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/no-kind-of-writing-lodges-itself-so-deeply-in-our-memory-echoing/)

[William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/)

> [The Past, being in the mode of memory, is closed, inalienable, and irreparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-katherina-langer/the-past-being-in-the-mode-of-memory-is-closed-inalienable-and/)

[Susanne Katherina Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-katherina-langer/)

> [I used to be gay, but I was forced to give it up, because it made my eyes water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-used-to-be-gay-but-i-was-forced-to-give-it-up-because-it-made-my/)

[Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/)

> [I can honestly say you've been on my mind since I woke up today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-micah-rosales/i-can-honestly-say-you-ve-been-on-my-mind-since-i-woke-up-today/)

[Maria Micah Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-micah-rosales/)

> [I went to sleep with you on my mind, and I woke up with you in my heart...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-luppino/i-went-to-sleep-with-you-on-my-mind-and-i-woke-up-with-you-in-my-heart/)

Rose Luppino

> [“I lived in a really dark place. I wasn't safe in my own mind. I woke up every morning hoping to die and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-lived-in-a-really-dark-place-i-wasn-t-safe-in-my-own-mind-i-woke-up/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [Keep your head up, Legs closed, Eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/keep-your-head-up-legs-closed-eyes-open/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [Keep your head high,legs closed,eyes open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-bluntst0ner/keep-your-head-high-legs-closed-eyes-open/)

[Y!bluntSt0ner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-bluntst0ner/)

> [And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/and-the-last-thought-he-had-that-morning-as-he-closed-his-eyes-was-i/)

[Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/)

> [“I closed my eyes and my body settled.Without thinking my body knew it'd do anything,anything, for Holden Maxwell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-closed-my-eyes-and-my-body-settled-without-thinking-my-body-knew-it/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [True beauty is seen through closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-beauty-is-seen-through-closed-eyes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [You were the oníly one I saw when I closed my eyes..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/you-were-the-on-ly-one-i-saw-when-i-closed-my-eyes/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

## More by Teresa Mummert

> [“A flower needs the rain to grow just as much as it needs the sunshine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/a-flower-needs-the-rain-to-grow-just-as-much-as-it-needs-the-sunshine/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“It wasn’t as easy for others to accept the darker side of themselves. Most like to cling to the notion that hesitation still marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/it-wasn-t-as-easy-for-others-to-accept-the-darker-side-of-themselves/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“Moth to a flame. Somehow we both got burnt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/moth-to-a-flame-somehow-we-both-got-burnt/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“Tears, happy tears, fell from my eyes as I held on to the only person in the world that could take away all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/tears-happy-tears-fell-from-my-eyes-as-i-held-on-to-the-only-person/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“I thought about how my life had drastically changed after the last few days. I had been on a downward spiral, but after meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-thought-about-how-my-life-had-drastically-changed-after-the-last/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than to create a world that solely exists in your imagination and be able to pull someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/there-is-no-greater-feeling-of-accomplishment-than-to-create-a-world/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“As I opened the door, Abel turned toward the shower and zipped up his pants. “Jesus! Shit! I’m so sorry.” I yanked the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/as-i-opened-the-door-abel-turned-toward-the-shower-and-zipped-up-his/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“Sometimes I scare myself at how easily I slip inside my mind and live vicariously through these characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/sometimes-i-scare-myself-at-how-easily-i-slip-inside-my-mind-and-live/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [Here we don't pray for the weak, we prey on the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/here-we-don-t-pray-for-the-weak-we-prey-on-the-weak/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“Worthless. It wasn’t that I viewed my tears as a weakness; it was that I knew what they’d said was true. I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/worthless-it-wasn-t-that-i-viewed-my-tears-as-a-weakness-it-was-that/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“I'm not hiding. I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve. Everything anyone wants to know about me is right in front of their faces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-m-not-hiding-i-m-wearing-my-heart-on-my-sleeve-everything-anyone/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [We need to boost each other to get to the top. It is much more effective than stepping on each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/we-need-to-boost-each-other-to-get-to-the-top-it-is-much-more/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“I made my mind up that this evening, after work, I would start taking applications for a new official sub. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-made-my-mind-up-that-this-evening-after-work-i-would-start-taking/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

> [“You’re a tough girl and you have dealt with a lot worse than this. These next two weeks will be like a fucking vacation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/you-re-a-tough-girl-and-you-have-dealt-with-a-lot-worse-than-this/)

[Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

[Explore all 106 Teresa Mummert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/)

## More Closed eyes quotes

> [You were the oníly one I saw when I closed my eyes..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/you-were-the-on-ly-one-i-saw-when-i-closed-my-eyes/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

> [In my room I'd barely closed my eyes when the blonde from the movie house came along and sang her whole song of sorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/in-my-room-i-d-barely-closed-my-eyes-when-the-blonde-from-the-movie/)

[Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/)

> [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/)

[Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/)

> [True beauty is seen through closed eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-beauty-is-seen-through-closed-eyes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I closed my eyes and my body settled.Without thinking my body knew it'd do anything,anything, for Holden Maxwell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-closed-my-eyes-and-my-body-settled-without-thinking-my-body-knew-it/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [And the last thought he had that morning as he closed his eyes was: I hope the tornado hit the moose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/and-the-last-thought-he-had-that-morning-as-he-closed-his-eyes-was-i/)

[Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/)

> [“She closed her eyes and prayed to whichever small ineffectual god protects the hearts of women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-wright/she-closed-her-eyes-and-prayed-to-whichever-small-ineffectual-god/)

[Kim Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-wright/)

> [If a dream affords the dreamer some light on himself, it is not the person with closed eyes who makes the discovery but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/if-a-dream-affords-the-dreamer-some-light-on-himself-it-is-not-the/)

[Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/)

> [Keep your head high,legs closed,eyes open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-bluntst0ner/keep-your-head-high-legs-closed-eyes-open/)

[Y!bluntSt0ner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-bluntst0ner/)

> [Nearly unable to bear the thought of how much he needed her quiet strength, he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/nearly-unable-to-bear-the-thought-of-how-much-he-needed-her-quiet/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [You said you dint wanna see me get hurt , so does that mean you closed your eyes when I cried ???](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-said-you-dint-wanna-see-me-get-hurt-so-does-that-mean-you-closed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Study your subject through half-closed eyes before starting to draw - you'll find that the lights and darks are exaggerated and easier to identify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-smith/study-your-subject-through-half-closed-eyes-before-starting-to-draw/)

[Stan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-smith/)

> [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/)

[Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/)

> [Few times ago I closed my eyes. Than I saw a dream that u r the happiest person in this world. If it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/few-times-ago-i-closed-my-eyes-than-i-saw-a-dream-that-u-r-the/)

Unknow

> [He fell in love with the way she closed her eyes, long before he fell in love with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/he-fell-in-love-with-the-way-she-closed-her-eyes-long-before-he-fell/)

[Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/)

Browse all 210 Closed eyes quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize every curve of her face. I wanted the image burned so deeply in my memory that when I closed my eyes to sleep at night, she would be the last thing I saw and the first person on my mind when I woke.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Teresa Mummert"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so-i-could-memorize-every-curve/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Closed eyes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so-i-could-memorize-every-curve/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/teresa-mummert-4826_first-person_i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so_1786218.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I forced myself to keep my eyes open so I could memorize every curve of her face. I wanted the image burned…” — Teresa Mummert",
                "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": "Teresa Mummert",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I forced myself to keep my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so-i-could-memorize-every-curve/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/i-forced-myself-to-keep-my-eyes-open-so-i-could-memorize-every-curve/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
