--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we want most is only to be held…and…" description: "\"“What we want most is only to be held…and told…that everything (everything is a funny thing, is baby milk and Papa’s eyes, is roaring logs on a cold mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/truman-capote-376_baby_what-we-want-most-is-only-to-be-held-and_2725030.jpg" --- # What we want most is only to be held…and told…that… ![“What we want most is only to be held…and told…that everything (everything is a funny thing, is baby milk and Papa’s eyes, is roaring logs on a cold morning, is hoot-owls and the boy who makes you cry after school, is Mama’s long hair, is being afraid, and twisted faces on the bedroom…” quote by Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/truman-capote-376_baby_what-we-want-most-is-only-to-be-held-and_2725030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/truman-capote-376_baby_what-we-want-most-is-only-to-be-held-and_2725030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1a/truman-capote-376_baby_what-we-want-most-is-only-to-be-held-and_2725030.jpg) > ““What we want most is only to be held…and told…that everything (everything is a funny thing, is baby milk and Papa’s eyes, is roaring logs on a cold morning, is hoot-owls and the boy who makes you cry after school, is Mama’s long hair, is being afraid, and twisted faces on the bedroom wall)…everything is going to be all right.”” [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A yearning for comfort and reassurance that life’s chaos will resolve peacefully. **In simple terms:** Seeking safety in reassurance. Key Takeaway Trust that things will improve. Themes comfort reassurance hope vulnerability Mood reflective hopeful Type emotional comfort When to use this quote - childhood trauma - grief coping - relationship support - mental health therapy Key Concepts psychology human need for security emotional resilience Questions to Reflect On - What comforts do you seek when anxious? - How can you balance reassurance with action? A Different Perspective May overlook the necessity of confronting problems directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Bedroom wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedroom-wall/) [Cold morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-morning/) [Held Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-told-1902211/) [Long hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-hair/) [Milk Papa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/milk-papa-2910906/) [Thing Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-baby-1045494/) [Want Held](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-held-242243/) ## Related quotes > [What we want most is to be held...and told..that everything (everything is a funny thing, is baby milk and papa's eyes, is roaring logs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/what-we-want-most-is-to-be-held-and-told-that-everything-everything/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Because that was what you did with family when you'd been worried about them, you grabbed them and held on to them and told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/because-that-was-what-you-did-with-family-when-you-d-been-worried/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You told me things & I believed them. I held on to them even after you told me you didn't mean it. I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bay/you-told-me-things-i-believed-them-i-held-on-to-them-even-after-you/) [Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bay/) > [Every little thing that you do, baby you amaze me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-little-thing-that-you-do-baby-you-amaze-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no such thing as a baby, there is a baby and someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-woods-winnicott/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-baby-there-is-a-baby-and-someone/) [Donald Woods Winnicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-woods-winnicott/) > [It's a very nice thing to have a baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-richter/it-s-a-very-nice-thing-to-have-a-baby/) [Andy Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-richter/) > [Jacks stood beside her. Instead of saying anything, she felt his fingers trace up her palm and then lace into hers. He had taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-speer/jacks-stood-beside-her-instead-of-saying-anything-she-felt-his/) [Scott Speer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-speer/) > [The worst thing is holding on to someone who doesn't want to be held on to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-worst-thing-is-holding-on-to-someone-who-doesn-t-want-to-be-held/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I think she's afraid to even hug me now. It's my fault, but I miss it, Andrew. I miss it so much it aches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-trumble/i-think-she-s-afraid-to-even-hug-me-now-it-s-my-fault-but-i-miss-it/) [J.H. Trumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-trumble/) > [And I want to be held down. I don't know what to do with the horrifying freedom that can destroy me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/and-i-want-to-be-held-down-i-don-t-know-what-to-do-with-the/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [Don't hold on to anything that doesn't want to be held by you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-grabil/don-t-hold-on-to-anything-that-doesn-t-want-to-be-held-by-you/) [Katie Grabil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-grabil/) > [Even when the sex is great, sometimes women just want to be held, shown attention and listened to attentively making them feel completely secure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-when-the-sex-is-great-sometimes-women-just-want-to-be-held-shown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Open your hands if you want to be held.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/open-your-hands-if-you-want-to-be-held/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I let you go because I cant hold onto what doesnt want to be held apoun:/](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/i-let-you-go-because-i-cant-hold-onto-what-doesnt-want-to-be-held/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [The Golden Rule of Relationships: Never hold on to someone who doesn't want to be held](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/the-golden-rule-of-relationships-never-hold-on-to-someone-who-doesn-t/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) ## More by Truman Capote > [“You can beat your brains out for her, and she’ll hand you horseshit on a platter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-beat-your-brains-out-for-her-and-she-ll-hand-you-horseshit-on/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The walls of the cell fell away, the sky came down, I saw the big yellow bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-walls-of-the-cell-fell-away-the-sky-came-down-i-saw-the-big/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Don't wanna ride on the devil's side...just wanna ride with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/don-t-wanna-ride-on-the-devil-s-side-just-wanna-ride-with-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Wrinkles and bones, white hair and diamonds: I can't wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/wrinkles-and-bones-white-hair-and-diamonds-i-can-t-wait/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You can't blame a writer for what the characters say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-t-blame-a-writer-for-what-the-characters-say/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [There is really no practical help that one can offer; it is a matter of self-discovery, of one's own convictions, or working with one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-is-really-no-practical-help-that-one-can-offer-it-is-a-matter/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“...Narcissus was so egotist...he was merely another of us who, in our unshatterable isolation, recognized, on seeing his reflection, the beautiful comrade, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/narcissus-was-so-egotist-he-was-merely-another-of-us-who-in-our/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Is it - I'm not certain - possible to love someone if your first interest is the use you can make of him? Doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/is-it-i-m-not-certain-possible-to-love-someone-if-your-first-interest/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [One of the most difficult things in writing a novel or anything at all is to choose the point of view from which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-in-writing-a-novel-or-anything-at/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I've never worked for a newspaper. I've had some very bad reviews in newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-never-worked-for-a-newspaper-i-ve-had-some-very-bad-reviews-in/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [But, my dear, so few things are fulfilled: what are most lives but a series of incompleted episodes? 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Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-s-a-bore-but-the-answer-is-good-things-only-happen-to-you-if-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“In the courtyard there was an angel of black stone, and its angel head rose above giant elephant leaves; the stark glass angel eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/in-the-courtyard-there-was-an-angel-of-black-stone-and-its-angel-head/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) [Explore all 585 Truman Capote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm so happy baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-m-so-happy-baby/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Weezy F. Baby. F. is fo' finisha:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/weezy-f-baby-f-is-fo-finisha/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Baby, I love you. We argue about the stupidest shit then we turn around and laugh about it. I'm obsessed with you and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay/baby-i-love-you-we-argue-about-the-stupidest-shit-then-we-turn-around/) [Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay/) > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. 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