--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For each of us has a perch on the tree…" description: "\"For each of us has a perch on the tree. After we are gone, that perch is marked by a notch, permanent, yes, but with its edges muting over time, assumi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/chang-rae-lee-3318_assuming_for-each-of-us-has-a-perch-on-the-tree-a_597643.png" --- # For each of us has a perch on the tree. After we are gone… ![“For each of us has a perch on the tree. After we are gone, that perch is marked by a notch, permanent, yes, but with its edges muting over time, assuming the tree is ever growing. Years from now someone can see that you were here, or there, and although you had little conception or care for the…” quote by Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/chang-rae-lee-3318_assuming_for-each-of-us-has-a-perch-on-the-tree-a_597643.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/chang-rae-lee-3318_assuming_for-each-of-us-has-a-perch-on-the-tree-a_597643.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/chang-rae-lee-3318_assuming_for-each-of-us-has-a-perch-on-the-tree-a_597643.png) > “For each of us has a perch on the tree. After we are gone, that perch is marked by a notch, permanent, yes, but with its edges muting over time, assuming the tree is ever growing. Years from now someone can see that you were here, or there, and although you had little conception or care for the wider branching, in the next life there might be a sigh of wonder at how quietly flourishing it all was, if never majestic.” [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each person leaves a subtle mark on the world, like a notch on a tree, which may fade but remains part of a larger, ever‑growing whole. **In simple terms:** Our lives leave small, lasting traces. Key Takeaway Live meaningfully, knowing your impact endures. Themes legacy impermanence connection nature humility Mood contemplative hopeful Type literary reflective When to use this quote - writing a memoir - planting a tree - contributing to community projects Key Concepts metaphor continuity existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you wish to leave? - How can small actions accumulate into lasting impact? A Different Perspective Notches can be erased by neglect or disaster. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Flourishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flourishing/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Majestic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majestic/) [Next life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-life/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“A bird will only perch on a branch it trusts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-bird-will-only-perch-on-a-branch-it-trusts/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I have filleted tens of thousands of perch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-rinella/i-have-filleted-tens-of-thousands-of-perch/) [Steven Rinella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-rinella/) > [I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5-lb. perch in my lake. (Answering a reporter who asked him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-would-say-the-best-moment-of-all-was-when-i-caught-a-7-5-lb-perch/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I cannot perch among those who think that I am broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-cannot-perch-among-those-who-think-that-i-am-broken/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound perch in my lake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-would-say-the-best-moment-of-all-was-when-i-caught-a-7-5-pound/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Occasionally the state of the planet can knock me off my perky perch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/occasionally-the-state-of-the-planet-can-knock-me-off-my-perky-perch/) [Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/) > [“She would die like some bird in a frost gripping her perch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/she-would-die-like-some-bird-in-a-frost-gripping-her-perch/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [I see City Perch as a destination restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-yard/i-see-city-perch-as-a-destination-restaurant/) [Sherry Yard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-yard/) > [“From her perch, she studied the world...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diamant/from-her-perch-she-studied-the-world/) [Anita Diamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diamant/) > [Nile perch are enormous but lethargic fish, easy to catch once they have taken your bait. Some are bright golden yellow, some grey pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuki-gallmann/nile-perch-are-enormous-but-lethargic-fish-easy-to-catch-once-they/) Kuki Gallmann > [I do a chimichurri sauce with garlic, parsley, olive oil, and red and black pepper. You just mince the garlic and the parsley and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-gonzalo/i-do-a-chimichurri-sauce-with-garlic-parsley-olive-oil-and-red-and/) [Julie Gonzalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-gonzalo/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Curator Shantrelle P. Lewis left for Amsterdam an Andy Warhol fellow, and came back with a film in her pocket. Please support this confrontation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dream-hampton/curator-shantrelle-p-lewis-left-for-amsterdam-an-andy-warhol-fellow/) [dream hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dream-hampton/) > [Every time a woman leaves the workforce because she can't find or afford childcare, or she can't work out a flexible arrangement with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/every-time-a-woman-leaves-the-workforce-because-she-can-t-find-or/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You've got to kick off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/a-good-compilation-tape-like-breaking-up-is-hard-to-do-and-takes-ages/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) ## More by Chang-Rae Lee > [The truth, finally, is who can tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/the-truth-finally-is-who-can-tell-it/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I think my parents recognised that I'd always wanted to be a writer, and so they didn't think that this was some idle, faddish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-think-my-parents-recognised-that-i-d-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Some writers are writing one great, big book and just taking all these different avenues towards it. They might seem on the outside to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/some-writers-are-writing-one-great-big-book-and-just-taking-all-these/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I try to be aware of what I'm concerned about, aware of how I feel about myself in the world, aware of how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-try-to-be-aware-of-what-i-m-concerned-about-aware-of-how-i-feel/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [“Behold a fire from the opposite shore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/behold-a-fire-from-the-opposite-shore/) [Chang-rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [“I would give most anything to hear my father's talk again, the crash and bang and stop of his language, always hurtling by. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-would-give-most-anything-to-hear-my-father-s-talk-again-the-crash/) [Chang-rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [We have hopes and make plans, and if they are dashed or waylaid, we naturally rationalize and redraw the map to locate ourselves anew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/we-have-hopes-and-make-plans-and-if-they-are-dashed-or-waylaid-we/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I remember when I was in art classes, I hated following the assignments. And I would get in trouble for doing something totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-remember-when-i-was-in-art-classes-i-hated-following-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [The past, as you suggest, is absolutely present at all times and the present is born from the past. I wouldn't want to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/the-past-as-you-suggest-is-absolutely-present-at-all-times-and-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Most people don't think about race as much as I do. They don't have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/most-people-don-t-think-about-race-as-much-as-i-do-they-don-t-have-to/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Not to any really influential effect, but certainly there have been comments that have surprised me. It's surprising sometimes to get particular perspectives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/not-to-any-really-influential-effect-but-certainly-there-have-been/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [My family immigrated when I was 3, and our predecessors inhabited the Korean Peninsula for as long as can be recalled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/my-family-immigrated-when-i-was-3-and-our-predecessors-inhabited-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [After college, I was living in New York and wrote furiously, a huge novel that I knew was a failure. I hoped that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/after-college-i-was-living-in-new-york-and-wrote-furiously-a-huge/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Usually, when you're talking about work with other writers it's because something seriously bad is going on with your work and you've absolutely thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/usually-when-you-re-talking-about-work-with-other-writers-it-s/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [ I had a visceral connection to the period \[of Korean War\]. By visceral I suppose I mean emotional. But every fiction requires so much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-had-a-visceral-connection-to-the-period-of-korean-war-by-visceral-i/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) [Explore all 133 Chang-Rae Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) James T. Conway > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For each of us has a perch on the tree. After we are gone, that perch is marked by a notch, permanent, yes, but with its edges muting over time, assuming the tree is ever growing. 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