--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was like training yourself to live on…" description: "\"“It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to sink your teeth into it and con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg" --- # It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an… ![“It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to sink your teeth into it and consume it, seeds, core, and all.” quote by Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg) > ““It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to sink your teeth into it and consume it, seeds, core, and all.”” [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage likens yearning for something whole to trying to live on only a fragment’s scent, highlighting the frustration of partial satisfaction versus full consumption. **In simple terms:** Wanting only a part of something leaves you unsatisfied; you need the whole experience. Key Takeaway Seek complete experiences rather than settling for fragments. Themes desire frustration wholeness consumption Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - food cravings - career goals - relationships - personal growth Key Concepts psychology of longing metaphor satisfaction Questions to Reflect On - What does “the whole” mean to you? - When is it okay to accept a fragment? A Different Perspective Partial fulfillment can still be meaningful; not all desires need total consumption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) ## Related quotes > [The smell of apple pies didn't quite fill the house, but it was there, a thread under everything else. It was kind of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/the-smell-of-apple-pies-didn-t-quite-fill-the-house-but-it-was-there/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) > [Come clean with a child heart Laugh as peaches in the summer wind Let rain on a house roof be a song Let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/come-clean-with-a-child-heart-laugh-as-peaches-in-the-summer-wind-let/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [I'm always a great student of writers' work habits. Balzac sat at his desk dressed in a monk's robe, and he always had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-m-always-a-great-student-of-writers-work-habits-balzac-sat-at-his/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [“And just as the Witch Jadis had looked different when you saw her in our world instead of in her own, so the fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-just-as-the-witch-jadis-had-looked-different-when-you-saw-her-in/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [We live in a world of things, and our only connection with them is that we know how to manipulate or to consume them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/we-live-in-a-world-of-things-and-our-only-connection-with-them-is/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“You are treating that thing as if it is a great treasure," he said. Well, yeah. Because it was. "You have something against cookies?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/you-are-treating-that-thing-as-if-it-is-a-great-treasure-he-said-well/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“How dull would it be to consume my meat with only one variety of sauce? My body and spirit would whither, being fed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/how-dull-would-it-be-to-consume-my-meat-with-only-one-variety-of/) [Emmanuelle de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/) > [Believe what you believe and it will be, believe what others believe and they will consume you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/believe-what-you-believe-and-it-will-be-believe-what-others-believe/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [Fashion pictures show people looking glamorous. Travel pictures show a place looking at its best, nothing to do with the reality. In the cookery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/fashion-pictures-show-people-looking-glamorous-travel-pictures-show-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realized-the-entire-business-has/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The first information I consume in the morning is probably 'The New York Times' and then my Twitter feed. I think Twitter is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/the-first-information-i-consume-in-the-morning-is-probably-the-new/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I don't worry about chemicals. There are enough chemicals entering my body through all the fizzy drinks I consume to worry if my lip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/i-don-t-worry-about-chemicals-there-are-enough-chemicals-entering-my/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [“To consume the Eucharist is an act of anticonsumption, for here to consume is to be consumed, to be taken up into participation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-cavanaugh/to-consume-the-eucharist-is-an-act-of-anticonsumption-for-here-to/) [William T. Cavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-cavanaugh/) > [I think I approach my choices much the way I approach the way I consume movies and TV and stuff. I like everything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/i-think-i-approach-my-choices-much-the-way-i-approach-the-way-i/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) ## More by Celeste Ng > [When you mention to people growing up in Cleveland they bring up the river catching on fire, or LeBron James leaving, they have these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/when-you-mention-to-people-growing-up-in-cleveland-they-bring-up-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [It's so easy, as a writer, to get stuck in your own head, to live in the little worlds you create. To forget that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-s-so-easy-as-a-writer-to-get-stuck-in-your-own-head-to-live-in-the/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“All up and down the street the houses looked like any others—but inside them were people who might be happy, or taking refuge, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/all-up-and-down-the-street-the-houses-looked-like-any-others-but/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [No reader wants to sit through the same scene four times in a row, unless they're radically different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/no-reader-wants-to-sit-through-the-same-scene-four-times-in-a-row/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Debut novels are difficult because nobody knows you... they just don't find a huge audience, because that's how the market works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/debut-novels-are-difficult-because-nobody-knows-you-they-just-don-t/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [We have to figure out why we see the world in different ways and then how are we going to adjust so that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/we-have-to-figure-out-why-we-see-the-world-in-different-ways-and-then/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“I have measured my life with coffee spoons and do I dare to eat a peach?' 'DO I DARE DISTURB THE UNIVERSE?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/i-have-measured-my-life-with-coffee-spoons-and-do-i-dare-to-eat-a/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“No one, she had learned from experience, could stand such silence for long. If you waited long enough, someone would start talking, and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/no-one-she-had-learned-from-experience-could-stand-such-silence-for/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Most of the time, everyone deserves more than one chance. We all do things we regret now and then. You just have to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/most-of-the-time-everyone-deserves-more-than-one-chance-we-all-do/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Though she would never quite articulate it this way, resentment began to sheathe concern. ANGER IS FEAR'S BODYGUARD, a poster in the hospital hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/though-she-would-never-quite-articulate-it-this-way-resentment-began/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Spend too much time alone with your own words, and your writing grows anemic, in dire need of a transfusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/spend-too-much-time-alone-with-your-own-words-and-your-writing-grows/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Everyone sees race, Lex," said Moody. "The only difference is who pretends not to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/everyone-sees-race-lex-said-moody-the-only-difference-is-who-pretends/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Writers, most of them, don't have a lot of resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/writers-most-of-them-don-t-have-a-lot-of-resources/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Browse Amazon reviews, and you'll see a surprising number of readers who believe one novel can summarize a country, its culture, and its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/browse-amazon-reviews-and-you-ll-see-a-surprising-number-of-readers/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [Short of the dishonest, the illegal, and the cruel, there's only one thing my son could do that would really disappoint me: not liking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/short-of-the-dishonest-the-illegal-and-the-cruel-there-s-only-one/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) [Explore all 212 Celeste Ng quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) ## More Consume quotes > [Women consume, and they must be directed what to consume, or they may identify you as lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/women-consume-and-they-must-be-directed-what-to-consume-or-they-may/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [I think I approach my choices much the way I approach the way I consume movies and TV and stuff. I like everything, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pare/i-think-i-approach-my-choices-much-the-way-i-approach-the-way-i/) [Jessica Pare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pare/) > [“To consume the Eucharist is an act of anticonsumption, for here to consume is to be consumed, to be taken up into participation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-cavanaugh/to-consume-the-eucharist-is-an-act-of-anticonsumption-for-here-to/) [William T. Cavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-cavanaugh/) > [I don't worry about chemicals. There are enough chemicals entering my body through all the fizzy drinks I consume to worry if my lip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/i-don-t-worry-about-chemicals-there-are-enough-chemicals-entering-my/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [The first information I consume in the morning is probably 'The New York Times' and then my Twitter feed. I think Twitter is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/the-first-information-i-consume-in-the-morning-is-probably-the-new/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realized-the-entire-business-has/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Fashion pictures show people looking glamorous. Travel pictures show a place looking at its best, nothing to do with the reality. In the cookery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/fashion-pictures-show-people-looking-glamorous-travel-pictures-show-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Believe what you believe and it will be, believe what others believe and they will consume you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/believe-what-you-believe-and-it-will-be-believe-what-others-believe/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“How dull would it be to consume my meat with only one variety of sauce? My body and spirit would whither, being fed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/how-dull-would-it-be-to-consume-my-meat-with-only-one-variety-of/) [Emmanuelle de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-de-maupassant/) > [“You are treating that thing as if it is a great treasure," he said. Well, yeah. Because it was. "You have something against cookies?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/you-are-treating-that-thing-as-if-it-is-a-great-treasure-he-said-well/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [We live in a world of things, and our only connection with them is that we know how to manipulate or to consume them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/we-live-in-a-world-of-things-and-our-only-connection-with-them-is/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Hate will consume more of your time and happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/hate-will-consume-more-of-your-time-and-happiness/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [The only way to overcome sadness is to consume it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/the-only-way-to-overcome-sadness-is-to-consume-it/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [We live in a world that tells us not to care, to consume everything in sight. It tells us that being cool and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-butterfly-hill/we-live-in-a-world-that-tells-us-not-to-care-to-consume-everything-in/) [Julia Butterfly Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-butterfly-hill/) > [“When you put your passion into your desire, when it becomes a fire that threatens to consume you unless you have it, then your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-put-your-passion-into-your-desire-when-it-becomes-a-fire/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) Browse all 259 Consume quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to sink your teeth into it and consume it, seeds, core, and all.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Celeste Ng" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on-the-smell-of-an-apple-alone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consume" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on-the-smell-of-an-apple-alone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/455/celeste-ng-1718_consume_it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on_3051884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to…” — Celeste Ng", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Celeste Ng", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It was like training yourself to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on-the-smell-of-an-apple-alone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on-the-smell-of-an-apple-alone/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```