--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had been fixed in my memory for so…" description: "\"“He had been fixed in my memory for so long, glowing but static, like an insect frozen in amber. And then had come Roger’s brief historical sightings, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/diana-gabaldon-185_motion-picture_he-had-been-fixed-in-my-memory-for-so-lo_2233942.jpg" --- # He had been fixed in my memory for so long, glowing but… ![“He had been fixed in my memory for so long, glowing but static, like an insect frozen in amber. And then had come Roger’s brief historical sightings, like peeks through a keyhole; separate pictures like punctuations, alterations; adjustments of memory, each showing the dragonfly’s wings raised or…” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/diana-gabaldon-185_motion-picture_he-had-been-fixed-in-my-memory-for-so-lo_2233942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/diana-gabaldon-185_motion-picture_he-had-been-fixed-in-my-memory-for-so-lo_2233942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78c/diana-gabaldon-185_motion-picture_he-had-been-fixed-in-my-memory-for-so-lo_2233942.jpg) > ““He had been fixed in my memory for so long, glowing but static, like an insect frozen in amber. And then had come Roger’s brief historical sightings, like peeks through a keyhole; separate pictures like punctuations, alterations; adjustments of memory, each showing the dragonfly’s wings raised or lowered at a different angle, like the single frames of a motion picture. Now time had begun to run again for us, and the dragonfly was in flight before me, flickering from place to place, so I saw little more yet than the glitter of its wings.”” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memories can be fragmented and static, but new experiences can reanimate them, revealing dynamic, richer perspectives. **In simple terms:** New experiences refresh old memories. Key Takeaway Seek fresh experiences to revitalize memories. Themes memory change perception Mood reflective nostalgic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - learning new skills - traveling - revisiting past events Key Concepts cognitive flexibility nostalgia narrative reconstruction Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate new insights with old memories? - What triggers your memory to shift? A Different Perspective Memories may remain distorted despite new inputs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dragonfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonfly/) [Dragonfly Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonfly-flight-5036068/) [Dragonfly Wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonfly-wings-5036069/) [Like Insect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-insect-431128/) [Motion picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-picture/) [Showing Dragonfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-dragonfly-5036067/) ## Related quotes > [“Despite its dark veins, the transparency of dragonfly’s wings assures me of a pure, innocent world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/despite-its-dark-veins-the-transparency-of-dragonfly-s-wings-assures/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“I can still only see a dragonfly, its wings as thin and light as silk and its body the color of rainbow. But on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-norris/i-can-still-only-see-a-dragonfly-its-wings-as-thin-and-light-as-silk/) [Daniela Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-norris/) > [“Cicadas bury themselves in small mouths of the tree's hollow, lie against the bark tongues like amulets, though it is I who pray I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hofmann/cicadas-bury-themselves-in-small-mouths-of-the-tree-s-hollow-lie/) [Richie Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hofmann/) > [“I know that you are a mere flea! I know that you need only be squashed to be done away with! I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-wolfman/i-know-that-you-are-a-mere-flea-i-know-that-you-need-only-be-squashed/) [Marv Wolfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-wolfman/) > [The sky was of the deepest blue, with a few white, fleecy clouds drifting lazily across it, and the air was filled with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/the-sky-was-of-the-deepest-blue-with-a-few-white-fleecy-clouds/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [If the flower were not attached to its stem, it would flee at the approach of man, like the insect or the bird; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/if-the-flower-were-not-attached-to-its-stem-it-would-flee-at-the/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“Something that sounded like an insect droned past Ralph’s ear. He had an idea it was a .45-caliber bug. Better hurry up, sweetheart, Carolyn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/something-that-sounded-like-an-insect-droned-past-ralph-s-ear-he-had/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? A moment of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/what-is-a-ghost-a-tragedy-condemned-to-repeat-itself-time-and-again-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [“You ain't got no self-respect, you feel like an insect Well don't you worry buddy, cause here he comes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/you-ain-t-got-no-self-respect-you-feel-like-an-insect-well-don-t-you/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-wind-shook-some-blossoms-from-the-trees-and-the-heavy-lilac/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I remember one time watching a bird snatch a dragonfly out of midair and thinking, 'Gee, life can come to an end - crunch!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-larson/i-remember-one-time-watching-a-bird-snatch-a-dragonfly-out-of-midair/) [Gary Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-larson/) > [“Alice stopped walking as a dragonfly hovered close. 'Yellow-winged darter.' The name came to mind of its own accord. She watched as the insect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/alice-stopped-walking-as-a-dragonfly-hovered-close-yellow-winged/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“The other day, I tried to remember what was the word for ‘dragonfly’ and couldn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/the-other-day-i-tried-to-remember-what-was-the-word-for-dragonfly-and/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“I no longer hated the whining, menacing dragonfly we rode in, but admired its grace as we surged towards the clouds, the lights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-pugh/i-no-longer-hated-the-whining-menacing-dragonfly-we-rode-in-but/) [Rosie Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-pugh/) > [If you are old and you wish to be young again, if only for a moment, try and identify a dragonfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-barnes/if-you-are-old-and-you-wish-to-be-young-again-if-only-for-a-moment/) [Simon Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-barnes/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More Dragonfly quotes > [“I no longer hated the whining, menacing dragonfly we rode in, but admired its grace as we surged towards the clouds, the lights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-pugh/i-no-longer-hated-the-whining-menacing-dragonfly-we-rode-in-but/) [Rosie Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-pugh/) > [“The other day, I tried to remember what was the word for ‘dragonfly’ and couldn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/the-other-day-i-tried-to-remember-what-was-the-word-for-dragonfly-and/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“Alice stopped walking as a dragonfly hovered close. 'Yellow-winged darter.' The name came to mind of its own accord. She watched as the insect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/alice-stopped-walking-as-a-dragonfly-hovered-close-yellow-winged/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [“I can still only see a dragonfly, its wings as thin and light as silk and its body the color of rainbow. But on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniela-norris/i-can-still-only-see-a-dragonfly-its-wings-as-thin-and-light-as-silk/) [Daniela Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniela-norris/) > [I remember one time watching a bird snatch a dragonfly out of midair and thinking, 'Gee, life can come to an end - crunch!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-larson/i-remember-one-time-watching-a-bird-snatch-a-dragonfly-out-of-midair/) [Gary Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-larson/) > [If you are old and you wish to be young again, if only for a moment, try and identify a dragonfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-barnes/if-you-are-old-and-you-wish-to-be-young-again-if-only-for-a-moment/) [Simon Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-barnes/) > [“The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-wind-shook-some-blossoms-from-the-trees-and-the-heavy-lilac/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“From his bedroom window on the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Nathaniel Dixon watched in awe at the four-ship formation of V-22 Ospreys chewing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-marker/from-his-bedroom-window-on-the-marine-corps-base-in-quantico/) [Jonathan Marker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-marker/) > [“the dragonfly symbolizes change in the perspective of self-realization? Change in mental and emotional maturity and in the understanding of the deeper meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-green/the-dragonfly-symbolizes-change-in-the-perspective-of-self/) [Stacy Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-green/) > [“Their love as a dragonfly, skimming over Echo Park, stopping to visit the lotus. They weren't going to be like everyone else, they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/their-love-as-a-dragonfly-skimming-over-echo-park-stopping-to-visit/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“A red dragonfly hovers above a backwater of the stream, its wings moving so fast that the eye sees not wings in movement but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/a-red-dragonfly-hovers-above-a-backwater-of-the-stream-its-wings/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Wings are of many kinds. 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Had me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soroosh-shahrivar/this-little-pumpkin-pie-beauty-she-personify-had-my-heart-beat-like/) [Soroosh Shahrivar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soroosh-shahrivar/) > [Yesterday a child came out to wonder Caught a dragonfly inside a jar Fearful when the sky was full of thunder And tearful at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/yesterday-a-child-came-out-to-wonder-caught-a-dragonfly-inside-a-jar/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [This dragonfly came up to me. He was hovering right in front of my face, and I was really examining him, thinking, How does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/this-dragonfly-came-up-to-me-he-was-hovering-right-in-front-of-my/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) [Browse all 28 Dragonfly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragonfly/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He had been fixed in my memory for so long, glowing but static, like an insect frozen in amber. And then had come Roger’s brief historical sightings, like peeks through a keyhole; separate pictures like punctuations, alterations; adjustments of memory, each showing the dragonfly’s wings raised or lowered at a different angle, like the single frames of a motion picture. 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