--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot meet someone for a moment, or…" description: "\"You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on someone in the street, without changing. That is my subject.\" — Carolyn Kizer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/carolyn-kizer-31047_casts_you-cannot-meet-someone-for-a-moment-or_1101363.png" --- # You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on… ![“You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on someone in the street, without changing. That is my subject.” quote by Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/carolyn-kizer-31047_casts_you-cannot-meet-someone-for-a-moment-or_1101363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/carolyn-kizer-31047_casts_you-cannot-meet-someone-for-a-moment-or_1101363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/carolyn-kizer-31047_casts_you-cannot-meet-someone-for-a-moment-or_1101363.png) > “You cannot meet someone for a moment, or even cast eyes on someone in the street, without changing. That is my subject.” [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Every brief encounter subtly alters us, shaping our thoughts and feelings. **In simple terms:** Brief encounters change us. Key Takeaway Notice how small interactions affect you. Themes change human connection perception Mood contemplative reflective Type poetic observational When to use this quote - daily commute - random conversation - public transport - shopping - waiting in line Key Concepts psychology social influence identity mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize subtle shifts after a brief meeting? - What impact do strangers have on your mood? A Different Perspective Changes may be fleeting and unnoticed without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing/) [Changing Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-subject-484331/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-street-2888799/) [Meet Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-moment-1073331/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Street Changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-changing-2888798/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Yossarian decided to change the subject. "Now you're changing the subject." he pointed out diplomatically. 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They bring a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/there-s-something-about-kindred-spirits-you-meet-them-and-for-a/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [“When I meet you, in that moment, I am no longer a part of your future. I start quickly becoming part of your past.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/when-i-meet-you-in-that-moment-i-am-no-longer-a-part-of-your-future-i/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [Honoring the moment is honoring every human being you meet. The only place where you can meet them is in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/honoring-the-moment-is-honoring-every-human-being-you-meet-the-only/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The challenge of politics is to meet each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/the-challenge-of-politics-is-to-meet-each-moment/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [“The game is changing' .. :The game is the same, the stakes are rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/the-game-is-changing-the-game-is-the-same-the-stakes-are-rising/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) ## More by Carolyn Kizer > [Poems, to me, do not come from ideas, they come from a series of images that you tuck away in the back of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poems-to-me-do-not-come-from-ideas-they-come-from-a-series-of-images/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [She tended to be impatient with that sort of intellectual who, for all his brilliance, has never been able to arrive at the simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/she-tended-to-be-impatient-with-that-sort-of-intellectual-who-for-all/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [I happen to believe that there are a lot of good poets around at present, but a poet like Alex Kuo, who possesses a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/i-happen-to-believe-that-there-are-a-lot-of-good-poets-around-at/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [Our masks, always in peril of smearing or cracking, in need of continuous check in the mirror or silverware, keep us in thrall to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/our-masks-always-in-peril-of-smearing-or-cracking-in-need-of/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“Food of Love Eating is touch carried to the bitter end. -Samuel Butler II I'm going to murder you with love; I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/food-of-love-eating-is-touch-carried-to-the-bitter-end-samuel-butler/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [What is so marvelous about living today is that it is possible to extend, like a flower, spreading petals in all directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/what-is-so-marvelous-about-living-today-is-that-it-is-possible-to/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [A poet, to whom no one cruel or imposing listens, Disdained by senates, whispers to your dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/a-poet-to-whom-no-one-cruel-or-imposing-listens-disdained-by-senates/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“from "Semele Recycled" But then your great voice rang out under the skies my name!-- and all those private names for the parts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/from-semele-recycled-but-then-your-great-voice-rang-out-under-the/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [In some ways painters have been more important in my life than writers. Painters teach you how to see—a faculty that usually isn’t highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/in-some-ways-painters-have-been-more-important-in-my-life-than/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [“Poets are interested primarily in death and commas. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poets-are-interested-primarily-in-death-and-commas/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [A poet, to whom no one cruel and imposing listens, / Disdained by senates, whispers to your dust,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/a-poet-to-whom-no-one-cruel-and-imposing-listens-disdained-by-senates/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [Poets are interested mostly in death and commas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-kizer/poets-are-interested-mostly-in-death-and-commas/) [Carolyn Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-kizer/) > [He said, "You have pigs in this poem; pigs are not poetic." 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