--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mom had just gotten back from Sydney, and…" description: "\"Mom had just gotten back from Sydney, and she had brought me an immense, surpassingly blue butterfly, Papilio ulysses, mounted in a frame filled with c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/audrey-niffenegger-1298_alcohol_mom-had-just-gotten-back-from-sydney-and_1843799.jpg" --- # Mom had just gotten back from Sydney, and she had brought… ![“Mom had just gotten back from Sydney, and she had brought me an immense, surpassingly blue butterfly, Papilio ulysses, mounted in a frame filled with cotton. I would hold it close to my face, so close I couldn't see anything but that blue. It would fill me with a feeling, a feeling I later tried…” quote by Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/audrey-niffenegger-1298_alcohol_mom-had-just-gotten-back-from-sydney-and_1843799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/audrey-niffenegger-1298_alcohol_mom-had-just-gotten-back-from-sydney-and_1843799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/audrey-niffenegger-1298_alcohol_mom-had-just-gotten-back-from-sydney-and_1843799.jpg) > “Mom had just gotten back from Sydney, and she had brought me an immense, surpassingly blue butterfly, Papilio ulysses, mounted in a frame filled with cotton. I would hold it close to my face, so close I couldn't see anything but that blue. It would fill me with a feeling, a feeling I later tried to duplicate with alcohol and finally found again with Clare, a feeling of unity, oblivion, mindlessness in the best sense of the word.” [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A blue butterfly triggers a profound sense of unity and mindlessness, later sought through alcohol and a lover, symbolizing fleeting transcendence. **In simple terms:** A small object can evoke deep, fleeting unity. Key Takeaway Pursue moments that dissolve ego. Themes transcendence memory beauty addiction love unity mindfulness Mood nostalgic intimate Type literary emotional When to use this quote - art appreciation - intimate moments - recovering from addiction Key Concepts symbolism psychology sensory experience Questions to Reflect On - What simple experiences bring you a sense of on? - How can you seek unity without harmful habits? A Different Perspective May romanticize unhealthy coping (alcohol). ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Oblivion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oblivion/) [Ulysses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ulysses/) [Unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unity/) ## Related quotes > [“What matters is you're the blue butterfly." "I'm… what?" "Come on, Professor, Dr. Maguire. You know all about metaphors and analogies and symbolism. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/what-matters-is-you-re-the-blue-butterfly-i-m-what-come-on-professor/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [Most of the songs I sing, they have that blue feeling to it. 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