--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Diana opened her eyes and steeled her…" description: "\"“Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair and the sun on your face and lips swollen w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png" --- # Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days… ![“Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair and the sun on your face and lips swollen with forbidden kisses. And other days, freedom meant killing an eel.” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png) > ““Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair and the sun on your face and lips swollen with forbidden kisses. And other days, freedom meant killing an eel.”” [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Diana balances yearning for carefree moments with dark, dangerous choices, showing freedom can be both pleasure and peril. **In simple terms:** Freedom can be light or lethal. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of true freedom. Themes freedom conflict desire Mood torn reflective Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - romantic adventure - dangerous missions - personal dilemmas Key Concepts moral ambiguity personal agency Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for freedom? - How do you reconcile pleasure with danger? A Different Perspective Freedom may demand harmful actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [“My days restricted... my fate decided. And in that, the one and only freedom allowed to me... was to love...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuki-shimizu/my-days-restricted-my-fate-decided-and-in-that-the-one-and-only/) Yuki Shimizu > [“decided that freedom is the right to control your own destiny, to empower yourself, to go and do and think and write and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cap-n-fatty-goodlander/decided-that-freedom-is-the-right-to-control-your-own-destiny-to/) [Cap'n Fatty Goodlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cap-n-fatty-goodlander/) > [She’d always wondered what it would feel like to stand on one end of a ballroom and watch a handsome, powerful man make his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/she-d-always-wondered-what-it-would-feel-like-to-stand-on-one-end-of/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Anyway, these ideas or feelings or ramblings had their satisfactions. They turned the pain of others into memories of one’s own. They turned pain,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/anyway-these-ideas-or-feelings-or-ramblings-had-their-satisfactions/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [“Freedom meant one thing to him—home. But they wouldn't let him go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-solzhenitsyn/freedom-meant-one-thing-to-him-home-but-they-wouldn-t-let-him-go-home/) [Alexander Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-solzhenitsyn/) > [I used to think freedom meant doing whatever you want. It means knowing who you are, what you are supposed to be doing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-used-to-think-freedom-meant-doing-whatever-you-want-it-means/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“Deliverance is not scary—it is the most beautiful, loving act of Jesus. It is the moment someone finally walks into the freedom that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-krick/deliverance-is-not-scary-it-is-the-most-beautiful-loving-act-of-jesus/) [Kathryn Krick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-krick/) > [Freedom meant for me to wear earrings, not freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-yeon-mi/freedom-meant-for-me-to-wear-earrings-not-freedom-of-speech/) [Park Yeon-mi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-yeon-mi/) > [“The freedom she meant was self-conquest. It was not a natural state. It was meant only for those who would risk everything for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/the-freedom-she-meant-was-self-conquest-it-was-not-a-natural-state-it/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [The oppression of it, the sense of helplessness, and really being part of a system and a bureaucracy that is arbitrary. I never thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenji-kohan/the-oppression-of-it-the-sense-of-helplessness-and-really-being-part/) [Jenji Kohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenji-kohan/) > [What a tiresome place America would be if freedom meant we all had to think alike or be the same color or wear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-oliver-killens/what-a-tiresome-place-america-would-be-if-freedom-meant-we-all-had-to/) [John Oliver Killens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-oliver-killens/) > [Freedom has not always meant the same for everyone in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/freedom-has-not-always-meant-the-same-for-everyone-in-this-country/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“His own exclamation: “Women should be free—as free as we are,” struck to the root of a problem that it was agreed in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/his-own-exclamation-women-should-be-free-as-free-as-we-are-struck-to/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“You must go further than I did," Nedra said. "You know that." "Further?" "With your life. You must become free." She did not explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/you-must-go-further-than-i-did-nedra-said-you-know-that-further-with/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [“Light was the symbol I tried to give them...The Cross was the symbol they adopted. The pain of self-sacrifice was obvious to them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-wylie/light-was-the-symbol-i-tried-to-give-them-the-cross-was-the-symbol/) [Philip Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-wylie/) ## More by Tessa Dare > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“You think a few features scattered on your face make you plain? I am ugly to the core. All England knows it. And after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/you-think-a-few-features-scattered-on-your-face-make-you-plain-i-am/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I’d be more than happy to let you survey my physical perfection in its entirety. But only if I get to see you, too.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-d-be-more-than-happy-to-let-you-survey-my-physical-perfection-in/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Words for everyday showers of prettiness, and the kind of misty loveliness that disappears whenever you try to grasp it. Beauty that’s heralded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/words-for-everyday-showers-of-prettiness-and-the-kind-of-misty/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Madeline stood before him in a gown of rich, emerald-green silk. The low-cut bodice did miraculous things for her bosom, and the vibrant color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/madeline-stood-before-him-in-a-gown-of-rich-emerald-green-silk-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And she was well-enough acquainted with loneliness to understand that the worst part wasn't having nobody caring for you - it was having nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-she-was-well-enough-acquainted-with-loneliness-to-understand-that/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“He stood in the doorway to a side chamber, bared to the waist and dripping. He propped one shoulder against the doorway and clutched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-stood-in-the-doorway-to-a-side-chamber-bared-to-the-waist-and/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And you claim to be feeling this way. Floatish. Singsong-ish. About me.” She sighed. “Yes.” “That’s absurd.” “I know, but I can’t seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-you-claim-to-be-feeling-this-way-floatish-singsong-ish-about-me/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“No, of course she didn't say it. But there is no other reason she should have called, except to pave the way for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/no-of-course-she-didn-t-say-it-but-there-is-no-other-reason-she/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And there it was. The prim face of censure he’d been seeking. A strange sense of satisfaction descended on him. Divine justice, perhaps. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-there-it-was-the-prim-face-of-censure-he-d-been-seeking-a-strange/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Another sketch-this one of Gabriel-hung on the all above the water cask. It swiveled gently on a single tack; or rather, the paper hung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/another-sketch-this-one-of-gabriel-hung-on-the-all-above-the-water/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I know what you’re thinking, Gray,” O’Shea’s brogue lilted down through the skylight one warm morning, while Sophia was hard at work. Mr. Grayson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/i-know-what-you-re-thinking-gray-o-shea-s-brogue-lilted-down-through/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“The path was a familiar one. Over the years she’d resided in Spindle Cove, Susanna must have walked it thousands of times. She knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-path-was-a-familiar-one-over-the-years-she-d-resided-in-spindle/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Miss Finch, it’s not wise for officers to quarter in the same house with an unmarried gentlewoman. Have a care for your reputation, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/miss-finch-it-s-not-wise-for-officers-to-quarter-in-the-same-house/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Explore all 472 Tessa Dare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More Diana quotes > [So, Diana thought, that was the bait she had to lay out for Jack. Of course. What else? He might lust for Diana, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/so-diana-thought-that-was-the-bait-she-had-to-lay-out-for-jack-of/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [I think Diana was a very friendly person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/i-think-diana-was-a-very-friendly-person/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [You can always tell where Diana Ross has been by the hair that's left behind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-ross/you-can-always-tell-where-diana-ross-has-been-by-the-hair-that-s-left/) [Diana Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-ross/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, that's what I grew up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/stevie-wonder-and-diana-ross-and-the-jackson-5-that-s-what-i-grew-up/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [In her final months Princess Diana was being shat upon by the tabloids -- basically for sleeping with an Arab. When she died, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/in-her-final-months-princess-diana-was-being-shat-upon-by-the/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“Paulinus, everyone knows. Say the word, and I'll run the bitch over with my chariot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/paulinus-everyone-knows-say-the-word-and-i-ll-run-the-bitch-over-with/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [I just don't like the idea of her singing my songs. Who the hell does she thinks she is? The world doesn't need another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-just-don-t-like-the-idea-of-her-singing-my-songs-who-the-hell-does/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [It is very annoying - things have been written by people who didn't know me at all or Princess Diana. They were written by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasnat-khan/it-is-very-annoying-things-have-been-written-by-people-who-didn-t/) [Hasnat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasnat-khan/) > [The muse is blind as Cupid and skittish as Diana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-muse-is-blind-as-cupid-and-skittish-as-diana/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Ill never get Over the Rhine or have Diana Krall all over me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/ill-never-get-over-the-rhine-or-have-diana-krall-all-over-me/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [Okay. Now my skin is really prickling. I've read all the Harry Potter books, all five of them. I don't remember any half-blood prince.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/okay-now-my-skin-is-really-prickling-i-ve-read-all-the-harry-potter/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Good night.' Diana summoned all the dignity that she could manage in her bedraggled state and began to move back up the beach. Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/good-night-diana-summoned-all-the-dignity-that-she-could-manage-in/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [What is it really like to be engaged?" asked Anne curiously. "Well, that all depends on who you're engaged to," answered Diana, with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/what-is-it-really-like-to-be-engaged-asked-anne-curiously-well-that/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [Girls like Diana Spencer, armed with nothing more than a guinea-pig-rearing certificate, proud to say in that old Sloane way that she was 'as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-york/girls-like-diana-spencer-armed-with-nothing-more-than-a-guinea-pig/) [Peter York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-york/) Browse all 227 Diana quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair and the sun on your face and lips swollen with forbidden kisses. And other days, freedom meant killing an eel.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tessa Dare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-resolve-some-days-she-decided/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diana" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-resolve-some-days-she-decided/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/tessa-dare-564_diana_diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-re_1884249.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair…” — Tessa Dare", "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": "Tessa Dare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Diana opened her eyes and steeled...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-resolve-some-days-she-decided/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/diana-opened-her-eyes-and-steeled-her-resolve-some-days-she-decided/#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 } } ] } ```