--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the sun grew hot, they returned…" description: "\"“When the sun grew hot, they returned indoors where they continued to float through their lives like a pair of astronauts, defying gravity, limited onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/arundhati-roy-346_astronauts_when-the-sun-grew-hot-they-returned-indo_1613022.jpg" --- # When the sun grew hot, they returned indoors where they… ![“When the sun grew hot, they returned indoors where they continued to float through their lives like a pair of astronauts, defying gravity, limited only by the outer walls of their fuchsia spaceship with its pale pistachio doors. It isn’t as though they didn’t have plans. Anjum waited to die…” quote by Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/arundhati-roy-346_astronauts_when-the-sun-grew-hot-they-returned-indo_1613022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/arundhati-roy-346_astronauts_when-the-sun-grew-hot-they-returned-indo_1613022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/arundhati-roy-346_astronauts_when-the-sun-grew-hot-they-returned-indo_1613022.jpg) > ““When the sun grew hot, they returned indoors where they continued to float through their lives like a pair of astronauts, defying gravity, limited only by the outer walls of their fuchsia spaceship with its pale pistachio doors. It isn’t as though they didn’t have plans. Anjum waited to die. Saddam waited to kill.”” [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid metaphor of characters trapped in a surreal, oppressive reality, highlighting inevitability of death and violence. **In simple terms:** People feel trapped by circumstances and looming threats. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of control and seek agency. Themes oppression death violence surrealism Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - war zones - personal crises - social oppression - family dynamics Key Concepts existentialism metaphor psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront oppressive environments? - What agency can you claim in dire circumstances? A Different Perspective The imagery may romanticize suffering, obscuring practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronauts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts/) [Defying gravity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defying-gravity/) ## Related quotes > [In my mid-twenties, I said to myself: 'I can't perform anymore!' I didn't know what I wanted to do. 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I mean, look at how marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-angela-davis/how-i-grew-to-believe-black-hair-has-power-genius-and-magic-in-it/) [Michaela Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-angela-davis/) > ['Defying Gravity' is a big, theatrical, grand gesture. In film, how do you match that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-platt/defying-gravity-is-a-big-theatrical-grand-gesture-in-film-how-do-you/) [Marc Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-platt/) > [“Please don't be overly sober with your precious wings, it's your addiction to freedom that makes me think that i too can defy gravity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-tyrone-jones/please-don-t-be-overly-sober-with-your-precious-wings-it-s-your/) [Curtis Tyrone Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-tyrone-jones/) > [Wild rivers are earth's renegades, defying gravity, dancing to their own tunes, resisting the authority of humans, always chipping away, and eventually always winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bangs/wild-rivers-are-earth-s-renegades-defying-gravity-dancing-to-their/) Richard Bangs > [“I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/singer/i-m-through-accepting-limits-cause-someone-says-they-re-so-some-2/) [Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/singer/) > [Its time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/its-time-to-trust-my-instincts-close-my-eyes-and-leap/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [“Aren’t you scared?" I asked. She had a way about her that made you question existence. "I am strong," she answered. Her voice grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-r-beck/aren-t-you-scared-i-asked-she-had-a-way-about-her-that-made-you/) C.R. Beck > [The difficulty lay with the mind accommodating itself to the notion of the plane, with all its weight, defying gravity, staying aloft. She understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/the-difficulty-lay-with-the-mind-accommodating-itself-to-the-notion/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [The wind picks up. It sends leaves scurrying for cover until a softer breeze blows through, settling them down again as if to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/the-wind-picks-up-it-sends-leaves-scurrying-for-cover-until-a-softer/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [The president is under 50 percent approval ratings in all the battleground states. So, you could say that President Obama is defying gravity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/the-president-is-under-50-percent-approval-ratings-in-all-the/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [So one time for my disillusioned artists, I hear ya Two times for the kid that air-guitars in the mirror Three times for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-denzongpa/so-one-time-for-my-disillusioned-artists-i-hear-ya-two-times-for-the/) [Danny Denzongpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-denzongpa/) > [So if you care to find me/ Look to the western sky/ As someone told me lately/ Everyone deserves the chance to fly!/ And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/so-if-you-care-to-find-me-look-to-the-western-sky-as-someone-told-me/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) ## More by Arundhati Roy > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Poverty is a crime and the poor are terrorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/poverty-is-a-crime-and-the-poor-are-terrorists/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Fiction and non-fiction are only different techniques of story telling. For reasons I do not fully understand, fiction dances out of me. Non-fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/fiction-and-non-fiction-are-only-different-techniques-of-story/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I've never been that person who thought that because I've written one novel, I should write another and another. It's only when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-ve-never-been-that-person-who-thought-that-because-i-ve-written-one/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [I think one of the saddest things that's happening to literature is that it's getting over-simplified by this diet of simple political ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/i-think-one-of-the-saddest-things-that-s-happening-to-literature-is/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [The only dream worth having, I told her, is to dream that you will live while you're alive and die only when you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-only-dream-worth-having-i-told-her-is-to-dream-that-you-will-live/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [But what was there to say? Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/but-what-was-there-to-say-only-that-there-were-tears-only-that/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Truly, there's no alternative to stupidity. Cretinism is the mother of fascism. I have no defence against it, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/truly-there-s-no-alternative-to-stupidity-cretinism-is-the-mother-of/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/the-secret-of-the-great-stories-is-that-they-have-no-secrets-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“stilts, the ground floors given over to parking. It’s a good idea in this car-maddened city,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/stilts-the-ground-floors-given-over-to-parking-it-s-a-good-idea-in/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Perhaps it’s true that things can change in a day. That a few dozen hours can affect the outcome of whole lifetimes. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/perhaps-it-s-true-that-things-can-change-in-a-day-that-a-few-dozen/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Explore all 628 Arundhati Roy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More Astronauts quotes > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [“Hero love?” I was puzzled. “You know. The kind of love you have for someone you want to be like: Marines, astronauts, cowboys, teachers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-dirks/hero-love-i-was-puzzled-you-know-the-kind-of-love-you-have-for/) [Leland Dirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-dirks/) > [“Living close to the ground Is seventh Heaven 'cause there are angels all around Among my frivolous thoughts I believe there are beautiful things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owl-city/living-close-to-the-ground-is-seventh-heaven-cause-there-are-angels/) [Owl City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owl-city/) > [“We're giving each other space." "You know what I think?" He shook his head. "Space is for astronauts." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-mcpartlin/we-re-giving-each-other-space-you-know-what-i-think-he-shook-his-head/) [Anna McPartlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-mcpartlin/) > [Astronauts are like these mythic legends, but really, they are just regular people, people who wear chinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/astronauts-are-like-these-mythic-legends-but-really-they-are-just/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“The Congresswoman was depressed by the fact that a woman of her standing could no longer count on making it to the rest room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/the-congresswoman-was-depressed-by-the-fact-that-a-woman-of-her/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [All astronauts, even civilians like me without pilot experience, have to learn how to co-pilot a jet called a T-38.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-koch/all-astronauts-even-civilians-like-me-without-pilot-experience-have/) [Christina Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-koch/) > [More astronauts have been to the moon than farmers who paid the inheritance tax in 2013.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/more-astronauts-have-been-to-the-moon-than-farmers-who-paid-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [For the first time American astronauts on the International Space Station ate vegetables grown in space. In other words, even space is getting more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/for-the-first-time-american-astronauts-on-the-international-space/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“Seriously hairy shit was going down on a regular basis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/seriously-hairy-shit-was-going-down-on-a-regular-basis/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [No astronauts look like George Clooney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/no-astronauts-look-like-george-clooney/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [“Mma Ramotswe found it difficult to imagine what it would be like to have no people. There were, she knew, those who had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mma-ramotswe-found-it-difficult-to-imagine-what-it-would-be-like-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Astronauts have been stuck in low-Earth orbit, boldly going nowhere. American attempts to kick-start a new phase of lunar exploration have stalled amid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/astronauts-have-been-stuck-in-low-earth-orbit-boldly-going-nowhere/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [In a big picture sense, it's more national prestige that we're risking. You know, we are proud of our space program, but as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/in-a-big-picture-sense-it-s-more-national-prestige-that-we-re-risking/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) [Browse all 138 Astronauts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When the sun grew hot, they returned indoors where they continued to float through their lives like a pair of astronauts, defying gravity, limited only by the outer walls of their fuchsia spaceship with its pale pistachio doors. It isn’t as though they didn’t have plans. Anjum waited to die. 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