--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was she asking me? That was, I…" description: "\"“What was she asking me? That was, I thought, all I needed to know. That was my profession, after all; if one could never know the answers, once could,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/desales-harrison-42811_faith_what-was-she-asking-me-that-was-i-though_2548681.jpg" --- # What was she asking me? That was, I thought, all I needed… ![“What was she asking me? That was, I thought, all I needed to know. That was my profession, after all; if one could never know the answers, once could, at least, know the questions. There were so few to know. Among my patients, every quandary and confusion proceeded from one of the few, the…” quote by DeSales Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/desales-harrison-42811_faith_what-was-she-asking-me-that-was-i-though_2548681.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/desales-harrison-42811_faith_what-was-she-asking-me-that-was-i-though_2548681.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/desales-harrison-42811_faith_what-was-she-asking-me-that-was-i-though_2548681.jpg) > ““What was she asking me? That was, I thought, all I needed to know. That was my profession, after all; if one could never know the answers, once could, at least, know the questions. There were so few to know. Among my patients, every quandary and confusion proceeded from one of the few, the elemental questions: What can I change and what must I accept? Of what, of where, of whom am I the issue? Can the past be touched? Can it be healed? That, as I had understood it, was my task as an analyst: not to answer the unanswerable question, but to accompany my patient to the threshold of the mystery. It was not the answer that healed. Indeed (I thought), belief in answers was the root of all anguish. What healed was the articulation of desire, the act of setting it down, laying it out, offering it up. I believed that it was only in uttering its question - not in receiving the answer - that the soul came into being, released into longing, which is its native element. In such a way I believed myself to be the midwife of the new soul, a creature squalling and alive because hungry and exposed. You see now how I have been repaid for such a belief, such a presumption. See with what new and terrible questions I have been repaid, questions demanding an answer: Who is the killer of Jessica Burke? Where is my daughter?”” [DeSales Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desales-harrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the therapeutic process of confronting unanswerable questions, emphasizing the power of articulating desire over seeking definitive answers **In simple terms:** Healing comes from expressing questions and desires, not finding answers Key Takeaway Focus on asking, not answering, for personal growth Themes psychology existentialism therapy Mood reflective introspective Type therapeutic philosophical When to use this quote - clinical practice - self‑reflection - support groups - creative writing Key Concepts Narrative therapy existential inquiry patient‑therapist dynamic Questions to Reflect On - What questions remain unanswered in your life? - How does voicing desire change your perspective? A Different Perspective May overlook need for concrete solutions in crisis ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [“What was she asking me? That was, I thought, all I needed to know. That was my profession, after all; if one could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desales-harrison/what-was-she-asking-me-that-was-i-thought-all-i-needed-to-know-that/) [DeSales Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desales-harrison/) > [“We can think a healed thought and speak a healed word, speak of and to the two who are One, our MotherGoddessFatherGod. 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She tapped me on the arm with her painted fan. "To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-elliott/why-do-you-ask-me-questions-to-which-you-already-know-the-answer-she/) [Kate Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-elliott/) > [“You shouldn't ask questions when you know at heart you'd prefer not to hear the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/you-shouldn-t-ask-questions-when-you-know-at-heart-you-d-prefer-not/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [Sometimes I'll go into an interview not knowing what it's about or who it's for. Sometimes I'm a little bit more prepared. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameer-gadhia/sometimes-i-ll-go-into-an-interview-not-knowing-what-it-s-about-or/) [Sameer Gadhia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameer-gadhia/) ## More by DeSales Harrison > [“Before now, it has never occurred to me that someone might pray for me. 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Among my patients, every quandary and confusion proceeded from one of the few, the elemental questions: What can I change and what must I accept? Of what, of where, of whom am I the issue? Can the past be touched? Can it be healed? That, as I had understood it, was my task as an analyst: not to answer the unanswerable question, but to accompany my patient to the threshold of the mystery. It was not the answer that healed. Indeed (I thought), belief in answers was the root of all anguish. What healed was the articulation of desire, the act of setting it down, laying it out, offering it up. I believed that it was only in uttering its question - not in receiving the answer - that the soul came into being, released into longing, which is its native element. In such a way I believed myself to be the midwife of the new soul, a creature squalling and alive because hungry and exposed. You see now how I have been repaid for such a belief, such a presumption. 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