I wanted to start over completely, to begin again as new…
“I wanted to start over completely, to begin again as new people with nothing of the past left over. I wanted to run away from who we had been seen to be, who we had been... It's the first thing I think of when trouble comes - the geographic solution. Change your name, leave town, disappear, make yourself over. What hides behind that impulse is the conviction that the life you have lived, the person you are, is valueless, better off abandoned, that running away is easier than trying to change things, that change itself is not possible.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The narrator describes a desire to abandon past identity, seeing geographic escape as a solution to perceived personal failure.
In simple terms: Wanting to start over by changing name and location.
Key Takeaway
Address underlying issues before fleeing.
Themes
identity
escape
self‑worth
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
personal
psychological
When to use this quote
- divorce
- job loss
- abuse recovery
- social stigma
Key Concepts
psychological avoidance
self‑redefinition
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you need to feel your past is valuable?
- How can you transform without erasing yourself?
A Different Perspective
Running away can reinforce feelings of helplessness.