--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I’ve finally recognized my body for…" description: "\"“But I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/anna-quindlen-467_like-car_but-i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for_2008551.jpg" --- # But I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a… ![“But I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and in the years to come. It’s like a car, and while I like a red convertible or even a Bentley as well as the next person, what I really need are…” quote by Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/anna-quindlen-467_like-car_but-i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for_2008551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/anna-quindlen-467_like-car_but-i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for_2008551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/anna-quindlen-467_like-car_but-i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for_2008551.jpg) > ““But I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and in the years to come. It’s like a car, and while I like a red convertible or even a Bentley as well as the next person, what I really need are four tires and an engine. I don’t require a hood ornament. It’s not about how my body looks at this point; it’s about how it works.”” [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. The body is a functional vehicle for one’s character, valued for performance over appearance; superficial adornments are unnecessary. **In simple terms:** Body is a tool for character, not a fashion show. Key Takeaway Prioritize function over form. Themes self‑image functionality authenticity Mood reflective empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - personal health - self‑esteem Key Concepts embodiment psychology societal standards Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on function affect self‑esteem? - What balance between appearance and performance is healthy? A Different Perspective May overlook cultural importance of appearance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-personality-641994/) [Delivery Designed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delivery-designed-3574898/) [Like Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-car/) [Personality Delivery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality-delivery-641990/) [Recognized Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognized-body-641991/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality-delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for-what-it-is-a-personality-delivery/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Being recognized for your body of work in totality is some sort of an encouragement that everyone looks for. To have actually achieved it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepti-naval/being-recognized-for-your-body-of-work-in-totality-is-some-sort-of-an/) [Deepti Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepti-naval/) > [Insecure about my body, about my personality, sometimes even about my understanding of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/insecure-about-my-body-about-my-personality-sometimes-even-about-my/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [Part of the punk attitude was that you should project your music through your whole body... show your personality as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-idol/part-of-the-punk-attitude-was-that-you-should-project-your-music/) [Billy Idol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-idol/) > [Some girls want the perfect hair, teeth, skin, body, and personality. Just keep in mind that you are unique & God doesn't create imperfections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/some-girls-want-the-perfect-hair-teeth-skin-body-and-personality-just/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [A perfect body with no personality Is like a masterpiece painted on a napkin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-perfect-body-with-no-personality-is-like-a-masterpiece-painted-on-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like to get that roll and pitch. I really like to take the car out on the highway for a spin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-james/i-like-to-get-that-roll-and-pitch-i-really-like-to-take-the-car-out/) [Ron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-james/) > [“Move like a car under cruise control. Do not be distracted by the nearby noise. Enjoy the journey, it is yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/move-like-a-car-under-cruise-control-do-not-be-distracted-by-the/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Why do some guys like their car more than girls? Well, it may have something to do with them knowing that if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cellan-slarcas/why-do-some-guys-like-their-car-more-than-girls-well-it-may-have/) [Cellan Slarcas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cellan-slarcas/) > [“Like a car that's old enough to be old but not old enough to be a classic, it would be years before people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/like-a-car-that-s-old-enough-to-be-old-but-not-old-enough-to-be-a/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [It's like, it's kind of like if you ever had a car and it was a bit of a clunker but you love it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/it-s-like-it-s-kind-of-like-if-you-ever-had-a-car-and-it-was-a-bit-of/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The body is like a car: the older you become the more care you have to take care of it - and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/the-body-is-like-a-car-the-older-you-become-the-more-care-you-have-to/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I can live without you but that life would be like a car without petrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akashdeep-singh-kailay/i-can-live-without-you-but-that-life-would-be-like-a-car-without/) [Akashdeep Singh Kailay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akashdeep-singh-kailay/) > [“Fear is like a car. Either you control it, or you let it paralyze you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/fear-is-like-a-car-either-you-control-it-or-you-let-it-paralyze-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Don’t drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/don-t-drive-like-you-own-the-road-drive-like-you-own-the-car/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## 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. Loss as character. Loss as life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/loss-as-muse-loss-as-character-loss-as-life/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/knowledge-of-our-own-mortality-is-the-greatest-gift-god-ever-gives-us/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [You teach your 16-year-old with your heart in your mouth to be a good driver and none of that makes any difference when some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/you-teach-your-16-year-old-with-your-heart-in-your-mouth-to-be-a-good/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Every reader, I suspect, has a book like this somewhere in his or her past, a book that seemed to hold within it, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/every-reader-i-suspect-has-a-book-like-this-somewhere-in-his-or-her/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality-delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-ve-finally-recognized-my-body-for-what-it-is-a-personality-delivery/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [A man who builds his own pedestal had better use strong cement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/a-man-who-builds-his-own-pedestal-had-better-use-strong-cement/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“In England I am always madam; I arrived too late to ever be a miss. 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. "It will make your hours pleasant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/reading-has-always-been-my-home-my-sustenance-my-great-invincible/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) [Explore all 538 Anna Quindlen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) ## More Like Car quotes > [“Like a car that's old enough to be old but not old enough to be a classic, it would be years before people would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/like-a-car-that-s-old-enough-to-be-old-but-not-old-enough-to-be-a/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [I like to get that roll and pitch. I really like to take the car out on the highway for a spin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-james/i-like-to-get-that-roll-and-pitch-i-really-like-to-take-the-car-out/) [Ron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-james/) > [“Fear is like a car. Either you control it, or you let it paralyze you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/fear-is-like-a-car-either-you-control-it-or-you-let-it-paralyze-you/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I can live without you but that life would be like a car without petrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akashdeep-singh-kailay/i-can-live-without-you-but-that-life-would-be-like-a-car-without/) [Akashdeep Singh Kailay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akashdeep-singh-kailay/) > [The body is like a car: the older you become the more care you have to take care of it - and you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/the-body-is-like-a-car-the-older-you-become-the-more-care-you-have-to/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [It's like, it's kind of like if you ever had a car and it was a bit of a clunker but you love it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/it-s-like-it-s-kind-of-like-if-you-ever-had-a-car-and-it-was-a-bit-of/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“Don’t drive like you own the road; drive like you own the car.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/don-t-drive-like-you-own-the-road-drive-like-you-own-the-car/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Why do some guys like their car more than girls? Well, it may have something to do with them knowing that if they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cellan-slarcas/why-do-some-guys-like-their-car-more-than-girls-well-it-may-have/) [Cellan Slarcas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cellan-slarcas/) > [“Move like a car under cruise control. Do not be distracted by the nearby noise. Enjoy the journey, it is yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/move-like-a-car-under-cruise-control-do-not-be-distracted-by-the/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [A website without SEO is like a car with no gas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cookson/a-website-without-seo-is-like-a-car-with-no-gas/) [Paul Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cookson/) > [You know what, the jacket’s like the car.” "“Is this a riddle?” " , "“No,” Peabody said as Eve swiped the master.","“It’s an", "ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-what-the-jacket-s-like-the-car-is-this-a-riddle-no-peabody/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [U like a my car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj/u-like-a-my-car/) [Neeraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj/) > [Love without loyalty is like a car with no gas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jfs/love-without-loyalty-is-like-a-car-with-no-gas/) [Jfs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jfs/) > [Love: You can't start it like a car, you can't stop it with a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/love-you-can-t-start-it-like-a-car-you-can-t-stop-it-with-a-gun/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Now, personally, I like a car with some sort of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hammond/now-personally-i-like-a-car-with-some-sort-of-character/) [Richard Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hammond/) [Browse all 50 Like Car quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-car/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and in the years to come. 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