--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: … That’s what a map is, you know. Just a…" description: "\"“… That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory. Just a wish to go back home—someday, somehow. … ”\" — Catherynne M. Valente" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/catherynne-m-valente-375_memory_that-s-what-a-map-is-you-know-just-a-mem_3133990.png" --- # … That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory. Just a… ![“… That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory. Just a wish to go back home—someday, somehow. …” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/catherynne-m-valente-375_memory_that-s-what-a-map-is-you-know-just-a-mem_3133990.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/catherynne-m-valente-375_memory_that-s-what-a-map-is-you-know-just-a-mem_3133990.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/994/catherynne-m-valente-375_memory_that-s-what-a-map-is-you-know-just-a-mem_3133990.png) > ““… That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory. Just a wish to go back home—someday, somehow. … ”” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A map symbolizes memory and longing, a wish to return home someday. **In simple terms:** Maps are memories and hopes. Key Takeaway Cherish memories while moving forward. Themes nostalgia journey homecoming Mood melancholic hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - travel planning - writing memoirs - family reunions - personal reflection Key Concepts Memory longing navigation Questions to Reflect On - What does “home” mean to you? - How do memories guide future choices? A Different Perspective Maps can mislead if we cling to idealized pasts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ## Related quotes > [That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/that-s-what-a-map-is-you-know-just-a-memory/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [A memory is just a memory, don't let it control what happens in the future or worse the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-mitchell/a-memory-is-just-a-memory-don-t-let-it-control-what-happens-in-the/) [Collin Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-mitchell/) > [“Friendship is our home, we'll go home someday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvi-syahrin/friendship-is-our-home-we-ll-go-home-someday/) [Alvi Syahrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvi-syahrin/) > [I just think that it's very helpful to have a map of your psyche, because when you have a map, you know where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-just-think-that-it-s-very-helpful-to-have-a-map-of-your-psyche/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Humans treat time as a map and always know where they are located on it and respond with the appropriate emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/humans-treat-time-as-a-map-and-always-know-where-they-are-located-on/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [I have a photographic memory; I just haven't developed it yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-have-a-photographic-memory-i-just-haven-t-developed-it-yet/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [“I wish I was home", She said miserably. She tried so hard to be brave, to be fierce as a wolverine and all, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-wish-i-was-home-she-said-miserably-she-tried-so-hard-to-be-brave-to/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Oh, Van. Don’t you know? Home is where your mind goes when the night is black and your heart is hurting. Home is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-gray/oh-van-don-t-you-know-home-is-where-your-mind-goes-when-the-night-is/) Shelley Gray > [Philosophy is properly home-sickness; the wish to be everywhere at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/philosophy-is-properly-home-sickness-the-wish-to-be-everywhere-at-home/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Some bridges are so beautiful that we wish them to be our own home!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/some-bridges-are-so-beautiful-that-we-wish-them-to-be-our-own-home/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“What are you thinking?” I ask. “That I wish this was my home, too.” I have nothing to say to this, so I kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-bloom/what-are-you-thinking-i-ask-that-i-wish-this-was-my-home-too-i-have/) [Anna Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-bloom/) > [“Robin told only a little of her life, but she kept repeating in one way or another her wish for a home, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/djuna-barnes/robin-told-only-a-little-of-her-life-but-she-kept-repeating-in-one/) [Djuna Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/djuna-barnes/) > [I wish I had been home more when the children were growing up. I missed a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-wish-i-had-been-home-more-when-the-children-were-growing-up-i/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“As soon as she says this, I realize she is just like everyone else, and wish I was back at home so that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-keegan/as-soon-as-she-says-this-i-realize-she-is-just-like-everyone-else-and/) [Claire Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-keegan/) > [I wish I could go home. I've been on the road since May. I wonder if my dogs still remember me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/i-wish-i-could-go-home-i-ve-been-on-the-road-since-may-i-wonder-if-my/) [Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More Memory quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“Maybe there is something when it all ends. Maybe there is memory, memory of the person you loved, when you lived. Maybe this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-ellison/maybe-there-is-something-when-it-all-ends-maybe-there-is-memory/) [Kate Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-ellison/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [Memory is funny. Once you hit a vein the problem is not how to remember but how to control the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/memory-is-funny-once-you-hit-a-vein-the-problem-is-not-how-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am told many children block out the memory of trauma. In fact, the healing process can only truly begin when we are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-stone/i-am-told-many-children-block-out-the-memory-of-trauma-in-fact-the/) [Phoebe Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-stone/) > [“The whole town rushed outside to celebrate this crowded minute when the time of suffering had ended and the time of forgetting had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-whole-town-rushed-outside-to-celebrate-this-crowded-minute-when/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I've ever met.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/i-have-a-memory-like-an-elephant-i-remember-every-elephant-i-ve-ever/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [What’s the use of remembering anything? If it was unpleasant it was unpleasant and if it was pleasant it’s over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-dundy/what-s-the-use-of-remembering-anything-if-it-was-unpleasant-it-was/) [Elaine Dundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-dundy/) > [Always remember a little thing can change everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-remember-a-little-thing-can-change-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/) Trunxbeats [Browse all 12,248 Memory quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“… That’s what a map is, you know. Just a memory. Just a wish to go back home—someday, somehow. … ”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherynne M. 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