--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could just open my mouth wide enough…" description: "\"“If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those gagging blobs of truth their slow, tar-seep passage up through my gullet, with barely enough ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg" --- # If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those… ![“If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those gagging blobs of truth their slow, tar-seep passage up through my gullet, with barely enough oxygen to keep from passing out while they glorp over my tongue, those truths would reach my teeth, where if my jaw weren't unhinged, I might bite…” quote by Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg) > ““If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those gagging blobs of truth their slow, tar-seep passage up through my gullet, with barely enough oxygen to keep from passing out while they glorp over my tongue, those truths would reach my teeth, where if my jaw weren't unhinged, I might bite them off so I could breathe again.”” [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a visceral, almost grotesque process of confronting harsh truths, suggesting that confronting reality can be painful but necessary for relief. **In simple terms:** Facing harsh truth can be painful but frees you. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to uncover truth. Themes truth pain acceptance self‑care Mood intense reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - therapy sessions - personal reflection - creative writing - stress relief - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology metaphor catharsis Questions to Reflect On - How can you confront painful truths without feeling overwhelmed? - What small actions can make truth‑seeking less distressing? A Different Perspective The metaphor may obscure practical steps for dealing with truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allow Gagging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allow-gagging-2020525/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Gagging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gagging-563221/) [Gagging Blobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gagging-blobs-2020526/) [Mouth Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-wide-462114/) [Open mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mouth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Open your mouth wide A universal sigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/open-your-mouth-wide-a-universal-sigh/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I saw him open his mouth wide. . . as though he had wanted to swallow all the air, all the earth, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-saw-him-open-his-mouth-wide-as-though-he-had-wanted-to-swallow-all/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“Upon Good Earth, lay the body down, open the mouth wide, let song rush through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/upon-good-earth-lay-the-body-down-open-the-mouth-wide-let-song-rush/) [Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/) > [“Joe went all the way home with his mouth wide open, to rinse the rum out with as much air as possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/joe-went-all-the-way-home-with-his-mouth-wide-open-to-rinse-the-rum/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“His face was broad and fat, his mouth wide, and without any other expression than that of imbecility. His eyes vacant and spiritless, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edmonds/his-face-was-broad-and-fat-his-mouth-wide-and-without-any-other/) [David Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edmonds/) > [Yeah Im from the south side, her mouth wide. My pack loud, my gat loud, I back out. And click clack, pow pow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/yeah-im-from-the-south-side-her-mouth-wide-my-pack-loud-my-gat-loud-i/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) > [I wanted to swallow myself by opening my mouth very wide and turning it over my head so that it would take in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-genet/i-wanted-to-swallow-myself-by-opening-my-mouth-very-wide-and-turning/) [Jean Genet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-genet/) > [When Jesus Christ utters a word, He opens His mouth so wide that it embraces all Heaven and earth, even though that word be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/when-jesus-christ-utters-a-word-he-opens-his-mouth-so-wide-that-it/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The mouth was wide open and ripped at the corners, as though she had choked a little in giving up the tremendous vitality she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-mouth-was-wide-open-and-ripped-at-the-corners-as-though-she-had/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [They say its cold outside. So like a dentist, Im just trying to keep they mouth wide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/they-say-its-cold-outside-so-like-a-dentist-im-just-trying-to-keep/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [“When all else fails…everyone is gagging…and the stove is on fire…I read the recipe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laury-falter/when-all-else-fails-everyone-is-gagging-and-the-stove-is-on-fire-i/) [Laury Falter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laury-falter/) > [Ladies: guys wouldn't cheat if you did a little less nagging, and a little more gagging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/ladies-guys-wouldn-t-cheat-if-you-did-a-little-less-nagging-and-a/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [I apply the three gag rule, which is if I can read a script without gagging more than three times, then maybe I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-riegert/i-apply-the-three-gag-rule-which-is-if-i-can-read-a-script-without/) [Peter Riegert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-riegert/) > [Iggy: "I'll grab a zebra; Gaz, you fill all the bubbles with your trademark scent. so people are choking and gagging; and let's throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/iggy-i-ll-grab-a-zebra-gaz-you-fill-all-the-bubbles-with-your/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [The President is gagging on my gas bladder! What an honour!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoidberg/the-president-is-gagging-on-my-gas-bladder-what-an-honour/) [Zoidberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoidberg/) ## More by Thalia Chaltas > [“Why am I not good enough? At least he loves Darren and Yaicha in some way even if it's horrible, he shows them attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/why-am-i-not-good-enough-at-least-he-loves-darren-and-yaicha-in-some/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“Invite someone over? No. Nobody plays at my house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/invite-someone-over-no-nobody-plays-at-my-house/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“I'm sorry, I had a meeting" I stand behind his chair. "Liar," under my breath. "You weren't at a meeting," take a breath, gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-m-sorry-i-had-a-meeting-i-stand-behind-his-chair-liar-under-my/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“Or maybe I am just outside enough, being the footstool observing from the corner, that I have a view of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/or-maybe-i-am-just-outside-enough-being-the-footstool-observing-from/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“The foam cushions on the old couch downstairs disintegrate daily in a hush, like each of us, small flecks of hardening puffs raining mute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/the-foam-cushions-on-the-old-couch-downstairs-disintegrate-daily-in-a/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“People are most honest when they don't know you are listening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/people-are-most-honest-when-they-don-t-know-you-are-listening/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“With all the dizzy galaxies hot gases dust at the speed of light neutrinos running through everything, no matter how powerful someone is here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/with-all-the-dizzy-galaxies-hot-gases-dust-at-the-speed-of-light/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“Not scared. But excited in that jiggering-on-too-much-hot-sauce kind of way that it's time to step out of my old framework, raw and amorphous, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/not-scared-but-excited-in-that-jiggering-on-too-much-hot-sauce-kind/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“I am always there. But they don't care if I am because I am furniture. I don't get hit I don't get fondled I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-am-always-there-but-they-don-t-care-if-i-am-because-i-am-furniture/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [I never realized till now how hard the brain has to work to make the body do what it asks. Or maybe how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-never-realized-till-now-how-hard-the-brain-has-to-work-to-make-the/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“I got an A on the third quiz in American history, an A, dammit. Last time I got a B up from a C…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-got-an-a-on-the-third-quiz-in-american-history-an-a-dammit-last/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“I'm sure you were mistaken," Yaicha says to her brush. My ears pin back - "MISTAKEN? I know who Angie is, Yaicha. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-m-sure-you-were-mistaken-yaicha-says-to-her-brush-my-ears-pin-back/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“Yaicha and Darren told me that I was the mailman's child, and I got so angry, stalking away, hot steam in my ribs. Yaicha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/yaicha-and-darren-told-me-that-i-was-the-mailman-s-child-and-i-got-so/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“Then why don't I tell on him? If they don't, why don't I? Because. Because I am safe this way, silent unnoticed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/then-why-don-t-i-tell-on-him-if-they-don-t-why-don-t-i-because/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) > [“I think that is supposed to be good, that I get less from him but I feel worth less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/i-think-that-is-supposed-to-be-good-that-i-get-less-from-him-but-i/) [Thalia Chaltas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) [Explore all 21 Thalia Chaltas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those gagging blobs of truth their slow, tar-seep passage up through my gullet, with barely enough oxygen to keep from passing out while they glorp over my tongue, those truths would reach my teeth, where if my jaw weren't unhinged, I might bite them off so I could breathe again.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thalia Chaltas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enough-to-allow-those-gagging/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breathing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enough-to-allow-those-gagging/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/thalia-chaltas-26451_breathing_if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enoug_1799598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I could just open my mouth wide enough to allow those gagging blobs of truth their slow, tar-seep passage…” — Thalia Chaltas", "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": "Thalia Chaltas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia-chaltas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If I could just open my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enough-to-allow-those-gagging/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia-chaltas/if-i-could-just-open-my-mouth-wide-enough-to-allow-those-gagging/#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 } } ] } ```