---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How simple a thing it seems to me that to…"
description: "\"How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mothers names.\" — Alice Walker"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png"
---

#  How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves…

![“How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mothers names.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png)

> “How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mothers names.”

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

## About This Quote

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

Knowing one's maternal lineage is essential for self‑knowledge and identity formation.

**In simple terms:** Understanding mother’s name deepens self‑awareness.

Key Takeaway

Explore family history.

Themes

identity family self‑discovery heritage

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- family tree research
- counseling
- cultural education
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

genealogy psychology cultural roots

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your mother’s name mean to you?
- How does heritage shape your identity?

A Different Perspective

Some may lack access to maternal information.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Know Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-mothers-850735/) [Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers/) [Mothers Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers-names-850736/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-thing-850737/)

## Related quotes

> [On Mother's Day, we take a moment to stop and honor our mothers for all they do. It has been my privilege to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/on-mother-s-day-we-take-a-moment-to-stop-and-honor-our-mothers-for/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [Children always know when their mothers are crazy - they just never admit it, not out loud, to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/children-always-know-when-their-mothers-are-crazy-they-just-never/)

[Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/)

> [I taught school in the early days of my manhood and I think I know something about mothers. There is a thread of aspiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-taught-school-in-the-early-days-of-my-manhood-and-i-think-i-know/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [“I know of other mothers who have children with disabilities,and right away they loved them and decided to fight for them. That isn’t my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-marchenko/i-know-of-other-mothers-who-have-children-with-disabilities-and-right/)

[Gillian Marchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-marchenko/)

> [Everyone always talks about how well mothers know their children. No one ever seems to notice how well children know their mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/everyone-always-talks-about-how-well-mothers-know-their-children-no/)

[Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/)

> [Our mythology tells us so much about fathers and sons. ... What do we know about mothers and daughters? ... Our power is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-roiphe/our-mythology-tells-us-so-much-about-fathers-and-sons-what-do-we-know/)

[Anne Roiphe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-roiphe/)

> [I think mothers get a raw deal in American culture, so I've been defending them. I have three daughters, and I know that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyne-daly/i-think-mothers-get-a-raw-deal-in-american-culture-so-i-ve-been/)

[Tyne Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyne-daly/)

> [Every now and again your life's course can turn on one simple thing, some small decision the import of which isn't at all obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-hamel/every-now-and-again-your-life-s-course-can-turn-on-one-simple-thing/)

[Debra Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-hamel/)

> [“It was a simple thing. All terror is a simplicity. ("Interval In Sunlight")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/it-was-a-simple-thing-all-terror-is-a-simplicity-interval-in-sunlight/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [My life is a simple thing that would interest no one. It is a known fact that I was born, and that is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/my-life-is-a-simple-thing-that-would-interest-no-one-it-is-a-known/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Im happy in a simple thing and in a simple way because the only thing I need is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/im-happy-in-a-simple-thing-and-in-a-simple-way-because-the-only-thing/)

[Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/)

> [I think when you grow up - and this is a simple thing that I've said numerous times - you should think and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate-warrior/i-think-when-you-grow-up-and-this-is-a-simple-thing-that-i-ve-said/)

[The Ultimate Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate-warrior/)

> [Think only what is right there, what is right under your nose to do. It's such a simple thing - that's why people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/think-only-what-is-right-there-what-is-right-under-your-nose-to-do-it/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [At first glance, that might seem a little silly: why put so much stress on a simple thing? But that's precisely the point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/at-first-glance-that-might-seem-a-little-silly-why-put-so-much-stress/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

> [What's seemingly a simple thing can actually be the hardest to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/what-s-seemingly-a-simple-thing-can-actually-be-the-hardest-to-achieve/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

## More by Alice Walker

> [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“Remember this-- say it & know it is true: Alice loves me Alice loves me and I am not blamed for this. ... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/remember-this-say-it-know-it-is-true-alice-loves-me-alice-loves-me/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“She saw poetry where other writers merely saw failure to cope with English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/she-saw-poetry-where-other-writers-merely-saw-failure-to-cope-with/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities...and the will to grasp them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-had-handed-down-respect-for-the-possibilities-and-the-will/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Helped are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/helped-are-those-who-are-content-to-be-themselves-they-will-never/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [“As others might prepare for an exam whose subject matter is unknown to them, so I must study, cram, for every conversation with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-others-might-prepare-for-an-exam-whose-subject-matter-is-unknown/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picked-up-a-coconut-and-smashed-it/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [Humans - whatever billions we are - we don't have the control. We are considered expendable, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/humans-whatever-billions-we-are-we-don-t-have-the-control-we-are/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/all-my-life-i-had-to-fight-i-had-to-fight-my-daddy-i-had-to-fight-my/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

[Explore all 654 Alice Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

## More Mothers quotes

> [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/)

[Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/)

> [“Time plays tricks on mothers. It teases you with breaks and brief caesuras, only to skip wildly forward, bringing breathtaking changes to your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/time-plays-tricks-on-mothers-it-teases-you-with-breaks-and-brief/)

[Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/)

> [The world needs our mothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/the-world-needs-our-mothers/)

[Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/)

> [Most men are secretly still mad at their mothers for throwing away their comic books. They would be valuable now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/most-men-are-secretly-still-mad-at-their-mothers-for-throwing-away/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [I agree that mommy wars are not good for any mothers: that such wars are time and effort wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/i-agree-that-mommy-wars-are-not-good-for-any-mothers-that-such-wars/)

[Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/)

> [“A mother is always the beginning. She is how things begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/a-mother-is-always-the-beginning-she-is-how-things-begin/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [The writer who is a mother should, I think, record everything she can: make notes, keep journals, take photographs, use a tape recorder, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-ostriker/the-writer-who-is-a-mother-should-i-think-record-everything-she-can/)

[Alicia Ostriker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-ostriker/)

> [My mother 'gave teas' the way other mothers breathed. Her own mother 'gave teas.' All of their friends 'gave teas,' each involving butter cookies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/my-mother-gave-teas-the-way-other-mothers-breathed-her-own-mother/)

[Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/)

> [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [“The short sharp shock of three thousand mother two hundred mothers. The ones who picked through the supermarket debris for pieces of their dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-short-sharp-shock-of-three-thousand-mother-two-hundred-mothers/)

[Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/)

> [Mothers love you to the end, and she didn't want to hold me back from my livelihood. So I left for a month and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/mothers-love-you-to-the-end-and-she-didn-t-want-to-hold-me-back-from/)

[Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/)

> [“...a woman writing thinks back through her mothers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-woman-writing-thinks-back-through-her-mothers/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [There are mothers that feel they made a mistake by having a kid at a very young age and they didn't get to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/there-are-mothers-that-feel-they-made-a-mistake-by-having-a-kid-at-a/)

[LeToya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/)

> [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/)

[Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/)

[Browse all 1,462 Mothers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mothers names.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alice Walker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-to-know-ourselves-as-we-are-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Mothers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-to-know-ourselves-as-we-are-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d2/alice-walker-347_mothers_how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-t_860843.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How simple a thing it seems to me that to know ourselves as we are, we must know our mothers names.” — Alice Walker",
                "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": "Alice Walker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "How simple a thing it seems...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-to-know-ourselves-as-we-are-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/how-simple-a-thing-it-seems-to-me-that-to-know-ourselves-as-we-are-we/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```