--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bitterness and alcohol and depression…" description: "\"“The bitterness and alcohol and depression are stripped away from these phantom incarnations, and they console and protect me in death as they never di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/christina-baker-kline-1124_death_the-bitterness-and-alcohol-and-depressio_2135998.png" --- # The bitterness and alcohol and depression are stripped… ![“The bitterness and alcohol and depression are stripped away from these phantom incarnations, and they console and protect me in death as they never did in life. I’ve come to think that’s what heaven is—a place in the memory of others where our best selves live on.” quote by Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/christina-baker-kline-1124_death_the-bitterness-and-alcohol-and-depressio_2135998.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/christina-baker-kline-1124_death_the-bitterness-and-alcohol-and-depressio_2135998.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d9/christina-baker-kline-1124_death_the-bitterness-and-alcohol-and-depressio_2135998.png) > ““The bitterness and alcohol and depression are stripped away from these phantom incarnations, and they console and protect me in death as they never did in life. I’ve come to think that’s what heaven is—a place in the memory of others where our best selves live on.”” [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that death offers a sanctuary where our ideal selves persist in others’ memories, unlike in life where pain and flaws dominate. **In simple terms:** Death is seen as a place where our best selves live on in others’ memories. Key Takeaway Cherish how you are remembered. Themes mortality memory identity afterlife comfort Mood reflective somber hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grieving - legacy building - writing memoirs - comforting the bereaved Key Concepts existentialism legacy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you want to be remembered? - What aspects of yourself do you wish to preserve? A Different Perspective It may romanticize death, overlooking its finality and grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Phantom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantom/) ## Related quotes > [“I have come to think that's where Heaven is, a place in the memories of other where our best selves live”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-have-come-to-think-that-s-where-heaven-is-a-place-in-the-memories/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [I've come to think that's what heaven is- a place in the memory of others where our best selves live on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-ve-come-to-think-that-s-what-heaven-is-a-place-in-the-memory-of/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“I always used to think that heaven is a place for people who've spent their whole life being good, but it isn't. God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-always-used-to-think-that-heaven-is-a-place-for-people-who-ve-spent/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [I'd like to think there is a Heaven, and it starts from the happiest day in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-crystal/i-d-like-to-think-there-is-a-heaven-and-it-starts-from-the-happiest/) [Billy Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-crystal/) > [He liked to think that Heaven was what each person wanted it to be. He could see no future in lying around on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-kelton/he-liked-to-think-that-heaven-was-what-each-person-wanted-it-to-be-he/) [Elmer Kelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmer-kelton/) > [Do I think there is a heaven? Uh, yeah I do. Like a really big gymnasium. How do I see myself there? With really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/do-i-think-there-is-a-heaven-uh-yeah-i-do-like-a-really-big-gymnasium/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [If there's a heaven out there somewhere, it's a place where we never have to say goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahleenzkie/if-there-s-a-heaven-out-there-somewhere-it-s-a-place-where-we-never/) [Sahleenzkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahleenzkie/) > [“Frankie," she said softly, "do you know what my idea of heaven is? A place where the windows are always clean, and the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hudson/frankie-she-said-softly-do-you-know-what-my-idea-of-heaven-is-a-place/) Helen Hudson > [Heaven is the place where I would be, the day you would stop loving me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-josland/heaven-is-the-place-where-i-would-be-the-day-you-would-stop-loving-me/) [A Josland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-josland/) > [“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/heaven-is-not-a-place-and-it-s-not-a-time-heaven-is-being-perfect/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“People who die in Detroit and then go to hell probably think they’re in heaven. I know, because I’ve been to Cleveland. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/people-who-die-in-detroit-and-then-go-to-hell-probably-think-they-re/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Some people think they should go to Heaven but not have to die to get there. Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilbert/some-people-think-they-should-go-to-heaven-but-not-have-to-die-to-get/) [Dan Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilbert/) > [Lying in bed, he would think of Heaven and London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/lying-in-bed-he-would-think-of-heaven-and-london/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“People think of heaven as a paradise garden, a place where they can float on clouds and laze in rivers and mountains. But scenery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/people-think-of-heaven-as-a-paradise-garden-a-place-where-they-can/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## More by Christina Baker Kline > [“Mr. Grote shows me how he grows wild rice in the stream and collects the seeds. The rice is nutty and brown. He plants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/mr-grote-shows-me-how-he-grows-wild-rice-in-the-stream-and-collects/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“I try to forget the horror of what happened. Or—perhaps forget is the wrong word. How can I forget? And yet how can I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/i-try-to-forget-the-horror-of-what-happened-or-perhaps-forget-is-the/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“don’t know how much of my memory of this time is affected by my age now and how much is a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/don-t-know-how-much-of-my-memory-of-this-time-is-affected-by-my-age/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“The stark gray sky and bare tree limbs feel more suited to her than the uncomplicated promise of sunny spring days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/the-stark-gray-sky-and-bare-tree-limbs-feel-more-suited-to-her-than/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Sometimes these spirits have been more real to me than people, more real than God. They fill silence with their weight, dense and warm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/sometimes-these-spirits-have-been-more-real-to-me-than-people-more/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Every Easter she and her mother planted those crocuses near the fence beside the driveway, and soon enough a whole cluster of them, white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/every-easter-she-and-her-mother-planted-those-crocuses-near-the-fence/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Babies pay no attention to the clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/babies-pay-no-attention-to-the-clock/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Mr. Kaminski pulled a chain hanging from the pressed-metal kitchen ceiling, and light seeped from a bulb, casting a wan glow over a scarred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/mr-kaminski-pulled-a-chain-hanging-from-the-pressed-metal-kitchen/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Before we leave the gravesite, Mary sings Mother's favorite gospel hymn ... Mary's lovely voice rises and lingers in the air, and by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/before-we-leave-the-gravesite-mary-sings-mother-s-favorite-gospel/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“for the first time since the fire, my worries are gone. I feel a joy so strong it’s almost painful—a knife’s edge of joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/for-the-first-time-since-the-fire-my-worries-are-gone-i-feel-a-joy-so/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“What was it the teacher in her Legal Issues class said the other day? Never bring up a point you don’t have an answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/what-was-it-the-teacher-in-her-legal-issues-class-said-the-other-day/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“Mrs. Scatcherd raps Dutchy's knuckles several times with a long wooden ruler, though it seems to me a halfhearted penalty. He barely winces, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/mrs-scatcherd-raps-dutchy-s-knuckles-several-times-with-a-long-wooden/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“(There are many ways to be crippled, I’ve learned over the years, many forms of paralysis.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/there-are-many-ways-to-be-crippled-i-ve-learned-over-the-years-many/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“This girl may never go anywhere. She should at least know that adventure is in her bones.” When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/this-girl-may-never-go-anywhere-she-should-at-least-know-that/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) > [“only link we had to our future was a name scrawled on a piece of paper my father tucked in his shirt pocket as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/only-link-we-had-to-our-future-was-a-name-scrawled-on-a-piece-of/) [Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) [Explore all 281 Christina Baker Kline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The bitterness and alcohol and depression are stripped away from these phantom incarnations, and they console and protect me in death as they never did in life. 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