--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You might think you could run away and…" description: "\"“You might think you could run away and change your name and I don't know what all. Start over. And then one mornin' you wake up and look at the ceilin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg" --- # You might think you could run away and change your name… ![“You might think you could run away and change your name and I don't know what all. Start over. And then one mornin' you wake up and look at the ceilin' and guess who's layin' there?” quote by Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg) > ““You might think you could run away and change your name and I don't know what all. Start over. And then one mornin' you wake up and look at the ceilin' and guess who's layin' there?”” [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that escaping problems by changing identity is futile; past actions catch up. **In simple terms:** Running away doesn’t solve problems; they return. Key Takeaway Face consequences rather than flee. Themes identity consequences escape Mood somber introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - legal trouble - relationship breakdown Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What are the true costs of trying to start over? - How can you confront past actions? A Different Perspective Changing name won’t erase past deeds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“You think when you wake up in the mornin yesterday dont count. But yesterday is all that does count. What else is there? Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-think-when-you-wake-up-in-the-mornin-yesterday-dont-count-but/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“It's not about knowin where you are. It's about thinkin you got there without takin anything with you. Your notions about startin over. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/it-s-not-about-knowin-where-you-are-it-s-about-thinkin-you-got-there/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I think you run out of 'I love yous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-think-you-run-out-of-i-love-yous/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [I think I can run a team pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajon-rondo/i-think-i-can-run-a-team-pretty-well/) [Rajon Rondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajon-rondo/) > [I used to think I could only run if I was a certain weight. It was a revelation when I accepted that thinking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-used-to-think-i-could-only-run-if-i-was-a-certain-weight-it-was-a/) [Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/) > [When I'm running and I think I can't run any more, I also think that my dad can't run at all, and it keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzen-wright/when-i-m-running-and-i-think-i-can-t-run-any-more-i-also-think-that/) [Lorenzen Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzen-wright/) > [You still think we can go out there, and we can all run the mile in four minutes, you know, your mind still thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/you-still-think-we-can-go-out-there-and-we-can-all-run-the-mile-in/) [Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/) > [Rather than think of it as somewhere to run from, the Bronx is somewhere to invest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/rather-than-think-of-it-as-somewhere-to-run-from-the-bronx-is/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [People see me now and ask if I'm still running. I may look like I am, but I'm really not. People think I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/people-see-me-now-and-ask-if-i-m-still-running-i-may-look-like-i-am/) [Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/) > [I think I run my strongest when I run with joy, with gratitude, with focus, with grace. With that strategy in place I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/i-think-i-run-my-strongest-when-i-run-with-joy-with-gratitude-with-2/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) > [I don't think you should ever run from history. You should learn from it and embrace it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-rivers/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-run-from-history-you-should-learn-from/) [Doc Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-rivers/) > [I don't think one can run out and try and chase love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/i-don-t-think-one-can-run-out-and-try-and-chase-love/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [“...The most important thing, I think. You can't run from your past. You have to take it for what it is and realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/the-most-important-thing-i-think-you-can-t-run-from-your-past-you/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [I don't think I would run for president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-don-t-think-i-would-run-for-president/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [I'm often asked what I think about as I run. Usually the people who ask this have never run long distances themselves. I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-often-asked-what-i-think-about-as-i-run-usually-the-people-who/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Cormac McCarthy > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. Old times, dead years. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-cooler-days-have-brought-a-wistful-mood-upon-him-the-smell-of/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“The events of the world can have no separate life from the world. And yet the world itself can have no temporal view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-events-of-the-world-can-have-no-separate-life-from-the-world-and/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“I had two dreams about him after he died. I dont remember the first one all that well but it was about meetin him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-had-two-dreams-about-him-after-he-died-i-dont-remember-the-first/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“You think people was meaner then than they are now? the deputy said. The old man was looking out at the flooded town. No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-think-people-was-meaner-then-than-they-are-now-the-deputy-said/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“They set forth in a crimson dawn where sky and earth closed in a razorous plane. Out there dark little archipelagos of cloud and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-set-forth-in-a-crimson-dawn-where-sky-and-earth-closed-in-a/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Nothing. Where all was burnt to ash before them no fires were to be had and the nights were long and dark and cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/nothing-where-all-was-burnt-to-ash-before-them-no-fires-were-to-be/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [He said that whether a man's life was writ in a book someplace or whether it took its form day by day was one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-said-that-whether-a-man-s-life-was-writ-in-a-book-someplace-or/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“He lives in a room above a courtyard behind a tavern and he comes down at night like some fairybook beast to fight with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-lives-in-a-room-above-a-courtyard-behind-a-tavern-and-he-comes/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Ultimo hombre. Last man standing, must've been one. Where'd he go?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/ultimo-hombre-last-man-standing-must-ve-been-one-where-d-he-go/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“To seek out the upright. No fall but preceded by a declination. He took great marching steps into the nothingness, counting them against his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/to-seek-out-the-upright-no-fall-but-preceded-by-a-declination-he-took/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“They went through the last of the cars and then walked up the track to the locomotive and climbed up to the catwalk. Rust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/they-went-through-the-last-of-the-cars-and-then-walked-up-the-track/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“Night fell upon them dark and starblown and the wagon grew swollen near mute with dew. On their chairs in such black immobility these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/night-fell-upon-them-dark-and-starblown-and-the-wagon-grew-swollen/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“When I was in school I studied biology. I learned that in making their experiments scientists will take some group - bacteria, mice, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/when-i-was-in-school-i-studied-biology-i-learned-that-in-making-their/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [ “We none of us knew him to speak \[Dutch\]. Asked him where he'd learned it you know what he said? What did he say.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/we-none-of-us-knew-him-to-speak-dutch-asked-him-where-he-d-learned-it/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“You know that the things you put it your head stay there, right?' 'Yeah. But you remember some things, don't you?' 'Yeah. You remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-know-that-the-things-you-put-it-your-head-stay-there-right-yeah/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) [Explore all 927 Cormac McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## More Run away quotes > [“She couldn’t run away from him. She’d be running from her own heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/she-couldn-t-run-away-from-him-she-d-be-running-from-her-own-heart/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Apparently I'm the most naked that anyone's been on TNT. My poor mother. I'm ready to run away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-lee/apparently-i-m-the-most-naked-that-anyone-s-been-on-tnt-my-poor/) [Sheryl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-lee/) > [It is Very Easy to Run Away from Everything, yet Difficult to Wake Up; Dont Run from Your Life, from Your Duties, from those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/it-is-very-easy-to-run-away-from-everything-yet-difficult-to-wake-up/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Sometimes, I just want to run away from it all - Fruits Basket”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takaya-natsuki/sometimes-i-just-want-to-run-away-from-it-all-fruits-basket/) Takaya Natsuki > [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [To be honest, whenever I run away from something, I land up straight into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shilpa-shinde/to-be-honest-whenever-i-run-away-from-something-i-land-up-straight/) [Shilpa Shinde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shilpa-shinde/) > [As a joke, I would love to stand in line at ATM machines, and when people put in their PIN, I yell Got it!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/as-a-joke-i-would-love-to-stand-in-line-at-atm-machines-and-when/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/happiness-comes-from-moving-toward-something-when-you-run-away/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Never before did I feel so bound by the chains of the soul. Never before was there such pain of ripping my heart apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/never-before-did-i-feel-so-bound-by-the-chains-of-the-soul-never/) [Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/) > [Sometimes, you have to run away from the people you love, not for the sake of letting them realize your worth, but for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-run-away-from-the-people-you-love-not-for-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [A hero is someone who simply got too frightened to use his good sense and run away, then somehow lived through it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/a-hero-is-someone-who-simply-got-too-frightened-to-use-his-good-sense/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I'll never know the reason why I always run away. Burning bridges one by one, what I'm doin' can't be undone .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/i-ll-never-know-the-reason-why-i-always-run-away-burning-bridges-one/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [“When someone leaves you, it doesn't give you permission to run away from yourself too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodinsky/when-someone-leaves-you-it-doesn-t-give-you-permission-to-run-away/) [Dodinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodinsky/) Browse all 619 Run away quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You might think you could run away and change your name and I don't know what all. Start over. And then one mornin' you wake up and look at the ceilin' and guess who's layin' there?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cormac McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-change-your-name-and-i-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Run away" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-change-your-name-and-i-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e29/cormac-mccarthy-181_quote_you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-c_2039313.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You might think you could run away and change your name and I don't know what all. Start over. And then one…” — Cormac McCarthy", "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": "Cormac McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You might think you could run...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-change-your-name-and-i-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/you-might-think-you-could-run-away-and-change-your-name-and-i-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```