--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And it is strange that absence can feel…" description: "\"And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.\" — Ally Condie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg" --- # And it is strange that absence can feel like presence. ![“And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.” quote by Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg) > “And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.” [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Absence can paradoxically feel as if the person or thing is still there, highlighting how memory and longing fill empty spaces. **In simple terms:** Missing can feel like presence. Key Takeaway Acknowledge feelings without clinging. Themes loneliness memory longing Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - grief counseling - relationship loss - personal reflection Key Concepts psychology perception attachment Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate feeling from fact? - What does this feeling teach you about attachment? A Different Perspective Presence may be a mental construct, not reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Absence Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence-feel-320645/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-presence-320647/) [Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Strange Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange-absence-320646/) ## Related quotes > [“And it is strange that absence can feel like presence. A missing so complete that if it were to go away, I would turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie-crossed/and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel-like-presence-a-missing-so/) [Ally Condie, Crossed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie-crossed/) > [“Funny how an absence can feel like a presence, like that space practically glows with her outline and make me notice how she's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-steinau-lester/funny-how-an-absence-can-feel-like-a-presence-like-that-space/) [Joan Steinau Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-steinau-lester/) > [“What do people feel like after they have been in your presence? Do they walk away saying, “I saw another possibility in life?” Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rigsby/what-do-people-feel-like-after-they-have-been-in-your-presence-do/) [Rick Rigsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rigsby/) > [I feel a warmth around me like your presence is so near, and I close my eyes to visualize your face when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-feel-a-warmth-around-me-like-your-presence-is-so-near-and-i-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stare into a thin, web-like crack above the urinal's handle and think to myself that if I were to disappear into that crack,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/i-stare-into-a-thin-web-like-crack-above-the-urinal-s-handle-and/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [The real absence is when you feel it deep within ,even when physically that person is still there !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laylablack/the-real-absence-is-when-you-feel-it-deep-within-even-when-physically/) [Laylablack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laylablack/) > [A word to say, a word to hear Even in ur absence I feel u near Our relation is strong.. hope it goes long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/a-word-to-say-a-word-to-hear-even-in-ur-absence-i-feel-u-near-our/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“She felt it when she woke, not a presence but an absence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-hawkins/she-felt-it-when-she-woke-not-a-presence-but-an-absence/) [Paula Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-hawkins/) > [When you find inner peace, neither the presence nor absence of any person, place or thing, condition, circumstance, or situation can be the Creator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/when-you-find-inner-peace-neither-the-presence-nor-absence-of-any/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [When my absence doesnt alter your life, then my presence has no meaning in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-my-absence-doesnt-alter-your-life-then-my-presence-has-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The absence of the latter means nothing, though its presence may mean everything”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-absence-of-the-latter-means-nothing-though-its-presence-may-mean/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Not only strive to make your presence noticed, but also contribute to make your absence felt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/not-only-strive-to-make-your-presence-noticed-but-also-contribute-to/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [“You may not appreciate the presence of good health, but you will definitely regret the absence of good health, because health is happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-may-not-appreciate-the-presence-of-good-health-but-you-will/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) ## More by Ally Condie > [“But I also know we can’t plan on anyone else rescuing us. We have to do it ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/but-i-also-know-we-can-t-plan-on-anyone-else-rescuing-us-we-have-to/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Ever since the day of the mistake with my Match. I've never known which life is my true one. Even with the reassurances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/ever-since-the-day-of-the-mistake-with-my-match-i-ve-never-known/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She knows how things fit together and move, but so few people understand her. She’s the most solitary person I’ve ever known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-knows-how-things-fit-together-and-move-but-so-few-people/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“There are many of them in the world, I think, good men and women with their frail deeds. Wondering what might have been, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/there-are-many-of-them-in-the-world-i-think-good-men-and-women-with/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“You wouldn't think you can forget but sometimes you can—for a moment or two. I've never been able to decide if I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/you-wouldn-t-think-you-can-forget-but-sometimes-you-can-for-a-moment/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“It doesn't matter much anyway. I haven't slept well since he left. I can't dream. In some ways, that's the hardest part of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/it-doesn-t-matter-much-anyway-i-haven-t-slept-well-since-he-left-i/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She's right. We would compose poems about love and tell stories that have been heard in some form before. But it would be our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-right-we-would-compose-poems-about-love-and-tell-stories-that/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“How we never, ever fight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/how-we-never-ever-fight/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Perhaps it is because now I live in his story. Now I am a part of his, and he of mine, and the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/perhaps-it-is-because-now-i-live-in-his-story-now-i-am-a-part-of-his/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“Of course, one person can be the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/of-course-one-person-can-be-the-world/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I wonder if they'll be able to resist. It's not exactly easy to save things for the future when the present is so uncertain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-wonder-if-they-ll-be-able-to-resist-it-s-not-exactly-easy-to-save/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I think of how many invisible injuries are possible. Ones scored on your heart, your brain, your bones. How do we all stand? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-think-of-how-many-invisible-injuries-are-possible-ones-scored-on/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“I see a glint in her eye as she looks at me and it makes me smile. Hold our breath? she seems to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-see-a-glint-in-her-eye-as-she-looks-at-me-and-it-makes-me-smile/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“What is the point of having something lovely if you never share it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/what-is-the-point-of-having-something-lovely-if-you-never-share-it/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [“She’s trying to figure out the Plague on her own and not taking what the Rising says for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/she-s-trying-to-figure-out-the-plague-on-her-own-and-not-taking-what/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) [Explore all 526 Ally Condie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More Absence quotes > [Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/distance-sometimes-endears-friendship-and-absence-sweeteneth-it/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/every-person-needs-to-take-one-day-away-a-day-in-which-one/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“I was thinking how most people don't make you feel much of anything at all. Don't make you feel like time spent with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lotter/i-was-thinking-how-most-people-don-t-make-you-feel-much-of-anything/) [Jane Lotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lotter/) > [Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/cooperation-isn-t-the-absence-of-conflict-but-a-means-of-managing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. 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Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) [Browse all 2,057 Absence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ally Condie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel-like-presence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel-like-presence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ally-condie-434_absence_and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel_816007.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And it is strange that absence can feel like presence.” — Ally Condie", "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": "Ally Condie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And it is strange that absence...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel-like-presence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/and-it-is-strange-that-absence-can-feel-like-presence/#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 } } ] } ```