--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And yet we constantly reclaim some part…" description: "\"And yet we constantly reclaim some part of that primal spontaneity through the youngest among us, not only through their sorrow and anger but simply th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/anna-quindlen-467_body_and-yet-we-constantly-reclaim-some-part_921699.jpg" --- # And yet we constantly reclaim some part of that primal… ![“And yet we constantly reclaim some part of that primal spontaneity through the youngest among us, not only through their sorrow and anger but simply through everyday discoveries, life unwrapped. To see a child touch the piano keys for the first time, to watch a small body slice through the surface…” quote by Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/anna-quindlen-467_body_and-yet-we-constantly-reclaim-some-part_921699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/anna-quindlen-467_body_and-yet-we-constantly-reclaim-some-part_921699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/anna-quindlen-467_body_and-yet-we-constantly-reclaim-some-part_921699.jpg) > “And yet we constantly reclaim some part of that primal spontaneity through the youngest among us, not only through their sorrow and anger but simply through everyday discoveries, life unwrapped. To see a child touch the piano keys for the first time, to watch a small body slice through the surface of the water in a clean dive, is to experience the shock, not of the new, but of the familiar revisited as though it were strange and wonderful.” [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children reveal wonder in familiar things, making the ordinary feel new and magical. **In simple terms:** Children make ordinary things feel magical. Key Takeaway Observe and cherish everyday moments. Themes parenthood wonder learning Mood joyful inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family outings - educational play - creative projects - mindful living Key Concepts mindfulness childhood perception Questions to Reflect On - What simple act today can spark wonder? - How can you share this perspective with others? A Different Perspective Adults may miss the magic without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-keys/) [Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [Reading has always been life unwrapped to me, a way of understanding the world and understanding myself through both the unknown and the everyday.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/reading-has-always-been-life-unwrapped-to-me-a-way-of-understanding/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [If you have a very hot experience then shock yourself with cold water, it's very very good for the nervous system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/if-you-have-a-very-hot-experience-then-shock-yourself-with-cold-water/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [“I remember not belonging. I was always Summer’s older sister—the plain one with the red hair and a gap between her front teeth. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodee-neathery/i-remember-not-belonging-i-was-always-summer-s-older-sister-the-plain/) [JoDee Neathery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodee-neathery/) > [“Once upon a time There was a friend Who poured some ink To a pen, which had been dried up Since then There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shasika-amali-munasinghe/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-friend-who-poured-some-ink-to-a-pen/) [Shasika Amali Munasinghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shasika-amali-munasinghe/) > [“That moment…that moment out there?” Blake pointed at the bed of army jacket, grass, and mint. “I’ve pictured it in my head for months.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/that-moment-that-moment-out-there-blake-pointed-at-the-bed-of-army/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [When I imagine some music in my mind, almost automatically, I imagine the piano keys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/when-i-imagine-some-music-in-my-mind-almost-automatically-i-imagine/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [The whole work of man really seems to consist in nothing but proving to himself every minute that he is a man and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-work-of-man-really-seems-to-consist-in-nothing-but-proving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope to refine music, study it, try to find some area that I can unlock. I don't quite know how to explain it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/i-hope-to-refine-music-study-it-try-to-find-some-area-that-i-can/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [Piano keys jangled as he got to his feet. "Our own Sleeping Beauty. Who finally kissed you awake?" "Nobody. I woke up on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/piano-keys-jangled-as-he-got-to-his-feet-our-own-sleeping-beauty-who/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [One's own free unfettered choice, one's own caprice-however wild it may be, one's own fancy worked up at times to frenzy-is that very "most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/one-s-own-free-unfettered-choice-one-s-own-caprice-however-wild-it/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“He squints at the screen. “So, would you call yourself a… hmmm, that doesn’t sound appropriate… a ‘nasty come hungry bottom dumpster bitch’?” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-klune/he-squints-at-the-screen-so-would-you-call-yourself-a-hmmm-that-doesn/) [T.J. Klune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-klune/) > [Touch me ‘til my ribs become piano keys, ‘til there is sheet music scrolled across the inside of my lungs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/touch-me-til-my-ribs-become-piano-keys-til-there-is-sheet-music/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [PIANO, n. A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor. It is operated by depressing the keys of the machine and the spirits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/piano-n-a-parlor-utensil-for-subduing-the-impenitent-visitor-it-is/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cristina-mena/the-piano-keys-are-black-and-white-but-they-sound-like-a-million/) Maria Cristina Mena > [“Sooner or later, we are bound to discover some things about ourselves that we don't like. But once we see they're there, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/sooner-or-later-we-are-bound-to-discover-some-things-about-ourselves/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) ## More by Anna Quindlen > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Sometimes change came all at once, with a sound like a fire taking hold of dry wood and paper, with a roar that rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/sometimes-change-came-all-at-once-with-a-sound-like-a-fire-taking/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Loss as muse. 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In New York I have only been madamed once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/in-england-i-am-always-madam-i-arrived-too-late-to-ever-be-a-miss-in/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“Yet there was always in me, even when I was very small, the sense that I ought to be somewhere else. And wander I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/yet-there-was-always-in-me-even-when-i-was-very-small-the-sense-that/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I can't think of a single downside to motherhood now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-can-t-think-of-a-single-downside-to-motherhood-now/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It would take a helluva man to replace no man at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/it-would-take-a-helluva-man-to-replace-no-man-at-all/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Not writing at all leads to nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/not-writing-at-all-leads-to-nothing/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Reading has always been my home, my sustenance, my great invincible companion. "Book love," Trollope called it. 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I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. 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