--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thoughts were nothing. Memories were…" description: "\"“Thoughts were nothing. Memories were nothing. They were nothing you could touch. They took no time. You could fit them all on the point of a pin. You ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/ann-brashares-572_memories_thoughts-were-nothing-memories-were-noth_412416.jpg" --- # Thoughts were nothing. Memories were nothing. They were… ![“Thoughts were nothing. Memories were nothing. They were nothing you could touch. They took no time. You could fit them all on the point of a pin. You could bring your entire world into doubt in a span of a few seconds.” quote by Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/ann-brashares-572_memories_thoughts-were-nothing-memories-were-noth_412416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/ann-brashares-572_memories_thoughts-were-nothing-memories-were-noth_412416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/ann-brashares-572_memories_thoughts-were-nothing-memories-were-noth_412416.jpg) > ““Thoughts were nothing. Memories were nothing. They were nothing you could touch. They took no time. You could fit them all on the point of a pin. You could bring your entire world into doubt in a span of a few seconds.”” [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our thoughts and memories are intangible, fleeting, and can be compressed into a single instant, yet they can destabilize our entire perception of reality. **In simple terms:** Intangible thoughts can shake reality. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of fleeting thoughts. Themes philosophy perception impermanence Mood contemplative introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Meditation - creative writing - psychology sessions - mindfulness practice Key Concepts Ephemerality subjectivity cognitive fragility Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay grounded when fleeting thoughts feel destabilizing? - What practices help you anchor reality? A Different Perspective Such insights can be overwhelming and may lead to anxiety if not balanced with grounding techniques. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“When you are dead and buried Do your thoughts and memories bubble to the surface?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-ratliff/when-you-are-dead-and-buried-do-your-thoughts-and-memories-bubble-to/) [Richard L. Ratliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-ratliff/) > [“If you are still alive in my memories why can’t I touch you Why can’t I make love to you? I crave for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yarro-rai/if-you-are-still-alive-in-my-memories-why-can-t-i-touch-you-why-can-t/) [Yarro Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yarro-rai/) > [When one remains unemployed for a year, even with the best will in the world, doubt sets in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-mendy/when-one-remains-unemployed-for-a-year-even-with-the-best-will-in-the/) [Edouard Mendy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-mendy/) > [The world no doubt is the best or most serviceable schoolmaster; but the world's curriculum does not include Latin and Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-v-lucas/the-world-no-doubt-is-the-best-or-most-serviceable-schoolmaster-but/) [E. V. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-v-lucas/) > [We are going to a new world... and no doubt it is there that everything is for the best; for it must be admitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-are-going-to-a-new-world-and-no-doubt-it-is-there-that-everything/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The only people I've met in this world who never doubt are materialists and atheists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/the-only-people-i-ve-met-in-this-world-who-never-doubt-are/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [“In fact, as I get older, I begin to feel that actually what we need more in the world is doubt; more skepticism, less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/in-fact-as-i-get-older-i-begin-to-feel-that-actually-what-we-need/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [The world was no doubt made, that it might be a theatre of the divine glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-world-was-no-doubt-made-that-it-might-be-a-theatre-of-the-divine/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The world men inhabit is rather bleak. It is a world full of doubt and confusion, where vulnerability must be hidden, not shared; where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-ford/the-world-men-inhabit-is-rather-bleak-it-is-a-world-full-of-doubt-and/) Anna Ford > [I don't know that I've gotten much feedback directly from the literary world; sometimes I doubt even the notion that there is a literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ames/i-don-t-know-that-i-ve-gotten-much-feedback-directly-from-the/) [Jonathan Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ames/) > [I do not doubt but the majest and beauty of the world are latent in any iota of the world; I do not doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-do-not-doubt-but-the-majest-and-beauty-of-the-world-are-latent-in/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“There are only two kinds of thoughts you can have, memories and imaginings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/there-are-only-two-kinds-of-thoughts-you-can-have-memories-and/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am a collection of thoughts and memories and likes and dislikes. I am the things that have happened to me and the sum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/i-am-a-collection-of-thoughts-and-memories-and-likes-and-dislikes-i/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [“Now that she had the diagnosis to explain her sense of reality, she sorted some of the chaotic jumble of thoughts and memories. "I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frances-casey/now-that-she-had-the-diagnosis-to-explain-her-sense-of-reality-she/) [Joan Frances Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frances-casey/) > [I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-sometimes-find-and-i-am-sure-you-know-the-feeling-that-i-simply-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ann Brashares > [“Because the truth wouldn't be comforting and wouldn't bring them closer again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/because-the-truth-wouldn-t-be-comforting-and-wouldn-t-bring-them/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“It’s by living that you live more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/it-s-by-living-that-you-live-more/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“¿Iban a sumirla en la tristeza antes de hacerla feliz? No, por favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/iban-a-sumirla-en-la-tristeza-antes-de-hacerla-feliz-no-por-favor/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“When she made her way to the big picture window that framed the dining room table she froze. She stopped breathing. The anger was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-she-made-her-way-to-the-big-picture-window-that-framed-the/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Lena remembered herself in all the old familiar things they said. She existed in her friends; there she was. All the parts of herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/lena-remembered-herself-in-all-the-old-familiar-things-they-said-she/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Everyone is fragile. Everything beautiful is fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/everyone-is-fragile-everything-beautiful-is-fragile/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“but it was hard to give the real world much notice when he was this close.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/but-it-was-hard-to-give-the-real-world-much-notice-when-he-was-this/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You don't have time, Len. That is the most bitter and the most beautiful piece of advice I can offer. If you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-don-t-have-time-len-that-is-the-most-bitter-and-the-most/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“You couldn’t count on Providence for anything ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-couldn-t-count-on-providence-for-anything-ever/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Gestating characters feels something like the mental equivalent of gestating a baby. In both cases, to create them you lose yourself. Or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/gestating-characters-feels-something-like-the-mental-equivalent-of/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“He could take happiness from her, but could he give any?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/he-could-take-happiness-from-her-but-could-he-give-any/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [The weather turned. Her skin seemed to grow a million extra pores, and all of them opened to take in the warmth and tenderness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/the-weather-turned-her-skin-seemed-to-grow-a-million-extra-pores-and/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [She wanted him to notice her so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/she-wanted-him-to-notice-her-so-much/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“No matter how it felt to be near him, she had to keep her swollen heart in check.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/no-matter-how-it-felt-to-be-near-him-she-had-to-keep-her-swollen/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [Maybe happiness was just a matter of the little upticks- the traffic signal that said "Walk" the second you go there- and downticks- the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/maybe-happiness-was-just-a-matter-of-the-little-upticks-the-traffic/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) [Explore all 465 Ann Brashares quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) ## More Memories quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [What keeps me motivated is not the food itself but all the bonds and memories the food represents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiarello/what-keeps-me-motivated-is-not-the-food-itself-but-all-the-bonds-and/) Michael Chiarello > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Memory revises me. Even now a letter comes from a place I don’t know, from someone with my name and postmarked years ago, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-young-lee/memory-revises-me-even-now-a-letter-comes-from-a-place-i-don-t-know/) [Li-Young Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-young-lee/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) [Browse all 11,132 Memories quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Thoughts were nothing. 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