--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We persist and linger longer than we…" description: "\"We persist and linger longer than we think, leaving traces of ourselves wherever we go. If you take that away, then we all simply vanish.\" — Dinaw Meng..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/dinaw-mengestu-12378_leaving_we-persist-and-linger-longer-than-we-thi_2538696.png" --- # We persist and linger longer than we think, leaving traces… ![“We persist and linger longer than we think, leaving traces of ourselves wherever we go. If you take that away, then we all simply vanish.” quote by Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/dinaw-mengestu-12378_leaving_we-persist-and-linger-longer-than-we-thi_2538696.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/dinaw-mengestu-12378_leaving_we-persist-and-linger-longer-than-we-thi_2538696.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed6/dinaw-mengestu-12378_leaving_we-persist-and-linger-longer-than-we-thi_2538696.png) > “We persist and linger longer than we think, leaving traces of ourselves wherever we go. If you take that away, then we all simply vanish.” [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human presence leaves lasting impacts; without them, existence would be erased. **In simple terms:** Our actions leave lasting traces. Key Takeaway Live meaningfully to create lasting impact. Themes legacy existence memory impermanence Mood thoughtful hopeful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - family traditions - community projects - artistic creation - environmental stewardship Key Concepts anthropology philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - How do small actions accumulate? A Different Perspective Impact may be forgotten over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [With all that we hear of American hustle and hurry, it is rather strange that Americans seem to like to linger on longer words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/with-all-that-we-hear-of-american-hustle-and-hurry-it-is-rather/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“Time blunts the pain and creates a mist over one’s memory — at least in the case of death and sorrow. Other types of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dickerson/time-blunts-the-pain-and-creates-a-mist-over-one-s-memory-at-least-in/) [Melanie Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dickerson/) > [Leaving traces of ourselves, as in creative productivity, could then be seen as part of the definition of consciousness for us as well. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/leaving-traces-of-ourselves-as-in-creative-productivity-could-then-be/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [“We're an information economy. They teach you that in school. What they don't tell you is that it's impossible to move, to live, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/we-re-an-information-economy-they-teach-you-that-in-school-what-they/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [It's impossible to move, to live, to operate at any level without leaving traces, bits, seemingly meaningless fragments of personal information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/it-s-impossible-to-move-to-live-to-operate-at-any-level-without/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [“You know, Ian,” Antonia commented, “my father always said a person needs a reason to leave and a reason to go. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/you-know-ian-antonia-commented-my-father-always-said-a-person-needs-a/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [Love, love you let me down. Making this too easy. Love, Love you let me down. Think you should be leaving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/love-love-you-let-me-down-making-this-too-easy-love-love-you-let-me/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [DON'T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death. JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/don-t-think-of-it-as-dying-said-death-just-think-of-it-as-leaving/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Tell me. Tell me why you think you're leaving me again. Because you're not, you know. You're not leaving without me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-reinhardt/tell-me-tell-me-why-you-think-you-re-leaving-me-again-because-you-re/) [Liz Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-reinhardt/) > [All things change, but we always have to think: what are we leaving behind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ullman/all-things-change-but-we-always-have-to-think-what-are-we-leaving/) [Ellen Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ullman/) > [Chelsea is one of the best clubs in the world, so I don't see why I would think of leaving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar/chelsea-is-one-of-the-best-clubs-in-the-world-so-i-don-t-see-why-i/) [Oscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar/) > [I think us leaving would have an enormous and bad effect on the rest of the EU. The EU would respond by deepening integration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-us-leaving-would-have-an-enormous-and-bad-effect-on-the-rest/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [“Do you think that much power comes without sacrifice? Did you think you could become you without leaving something, without leaving me, behind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/do-you-think-that-much-power-comes-without-sacrifice-did-you-think/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Hurt me all you want, but don't even think about leaving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hurt-me-all-you-want-but-don-t-even-think-about-leaving-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And then you came along and you spoke to me and nobody had looked me in the eye for years. (...) But I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/and-then-you-came-along-and-you-spoke-to-me-and-nobody-had-looked-me/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## More by Dinaw Mengestu > [You see, at the beginning we weren't fighters. We weren't yellers or throwers, even if we eventually came to be. It would take time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/you-see-at-the-beginning-we-weren-t-fighters-we-weren-t-yellers-or/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [I told my parents I was going to be a doctor and then a lawyer, but I never believed it and never tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/i-told-my-parents-i-was-going-to-be-a-doctor-and-then-a-lawyer-but-i/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“You will never disappear," I said. "Even if it may feel like you have at some point. We're going to remain a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/you-will-never-disappear-i-said-even-if-it-may-feel-like-you-have-at/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [The fact that I have always been deeply invested in politics, and African politics in particular, inevitably played a role in my first novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/the-fact-that-i-have-always-been-deeply-invested-in-politics-and/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [Writers, especially those of us with roots in other countries, are rarely left to ourselves. We are asked to declare our allegiances, or they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/writers-especially-those-of-us-with-roots-in-other-countries-are/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [Personally, its a comfort and happiness to know that my work is taken seriously and is not marginalised and put in a box of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/personally-its-a-comfort-and-happiness-to-know-that-my-work-is-taken/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“If the last thing a man has to hold on to is his sense of pride and accompanying dignity, then more likely than not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/if-the-last-thing-a-man-has-to-hold-on-to-is-his-sense-of-pride-and/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“Have you seen a hungry man with a gun? Of course not. Such things don't exist. It's like saying, have you ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/have-you-seen-a-hungry-man-with-a-gun-of-course-not-such-things-don-t/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [There are those who wake up each morning to conquer the day, and then there are those of us who wake up only because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/there-are-those-who-wake-up-each-morning-to-conquer-the-day-and-then/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“She always thought Americans were too territorial. 'All those fences and flags,' she had once said, seeing very little difference between the two.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/she-always-thought-americans-were-too-territorial-all-those-fences/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [Ethnic divisions can definitely be exacerbated by a lack of natural resources, but those tensions become violent when people manipulate them for their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/ethnic-divisions-can-definitely-be-exacerbated-by-a-lack-of-natural/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“I remember another aphorism of my father's, one that he used to say whenever we passed someone pissing openly in the street: add color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/i-remember-another-aphorism-of-my-father-s-one-that-he-used-to-say/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [“Through them, the story becomes an argument for a better way of seeing, which has always struck me as being one of the novel’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/through-them-the-story-becomes-an-argument-for-a-better-way-of-seeing/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [Obviously, in marketing, the best tool is to show the autobiography in fiction. It's inevitable how that happens, but it's generic. Say I've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/obviously-in-marketing-the-best-tool-is-to-show-the-autobiography-in/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) > [I had lost too much of the heart and all the faith needed to stay afloat in a job where every human encounter felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinaw-mengestu/i-had-lost-too-much-of-the-heart-and-all-the-faith-needed-to-stay/) [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) [Explore all 54 Dinaw Mengestu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) ## More Leaving quotes > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [Leaving North Korea is not like leaving any other country. It is more like leaving another universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/leaving-north-korea-is-not-like-leaving-any-other-country-it-is-more/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'd always wanted to do a film than TV show because film is always where my heart has been. I like diving into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailene-woodley/i-d-always-wanted-to-do-a-film-than-tv-show-because-film-is-always/) [Shailene Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailene-woodley/) > [“I have such great love for you, little one. Such great love.” “I love you just as much, Hunter. I thought I’d die when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/i-have-such-great-love-for-you-little-one-such-great-love-i-love-you/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“I may be the one leaving, but you’re the one giving up everything and walking away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-flowers/i-may-be-the-one-leaving-but-you-re-the-one-giving-up-everything-and/) [Loni Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-flowers/) > [It's interesting, I don't really think too much about being a role model or leaving a legacy or whatever. It's just not how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/it-s-interesting-i-don-t-really-think-too-much-about-being-a-role/) [Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/) > [It's true that an offer from Manchester United was on the table - I was really close to leaving Inter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-perisic/it-s-true-that-an-offer-from-manchester-united-was-on-the-table-i-was/) [Ivan Perisic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-perisic/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) Browse all 3,420 Leaving quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We persist and linger longer than we think, leaving traces of ourselves wherever we go. 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