--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a place where we are always…" description: "\"There is a place where we are always alone with our own mortality, where we must simply have something greater than ourselves to hold onto-God or histo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg" --- # There is a place where we are always alone with our own… ![“There is a place where we are always alone with our own mortality, where we must simply have something greater than ourselves to hold onto-God or history or politics or literature or a belief in the healing power of love, or even righteous anger… A reason to believe, a way to take the world by the…” quote by Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg) > “There is a place where we are always alone with our own mortality, where we must simply have something greater than ourselves to hold onto-God or history or politics or literature or a belief in the healing power of love, or even righteous anger… A reason to believe, a way to take the world by the throat and insist that there is more to this life than we have ever imagined.” [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finding something larger than ourselves—faith, history, art, love—helps us confront mortality and gives life meaning. **In simple terms:** Belief in something bigger eases death anxiety. Key Takeaway Cultivate a transcendent purpose. Themes meaning mortality spirituality literature Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - grief - old age - creative work - political activism Key Concepts existentialism humanism hope Questions to Reflect On - What gives you a sense of larger purpose - How do you sustain belief during hardship? A Different Perspective Relying on external beliefs can be fragile if they fail. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-healing-777123/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Hold God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Literature Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature-belief-777124/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortality/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-love/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) [Righteous anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous-anger/) [This life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-life/) [Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throat/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Until bitterness ans self-pity and anger are gone... the belief was that healing was not possible until the spirit was cleansed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/until-bitterness-ans-self-pity-and-anger-are-gone-the-belief-was-that/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [Women lose their lives not knowing they can do something different...I claimed myself and remade my life. 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Blaylock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-blaylock/) > [It's hard not to empathize with the mayor's anger, given the injustices he'd suffered, but righteous anger rarely leads to wise policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-not-to-empathize-with-the-mayor-s-anger-given-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Righteous anger invites change. It can envision what the other might look like if the arrogance controlling the heart was pierced. Anger is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-allender/righteous-anger-invites-change-it-can-envision-what-the-other-might/) [Dan Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-allender/) > [America roused to a righteous anger has always been a force for good. 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Blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/the-path-of-the-righteous-man-is-beset-on-all-sides-by-the-inequities/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [“On the day when you again allow abominable men to confiscate your freedom, your money, your lives, your private property, your manhood and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/on-the-day-when-you-again-allow-abominable-men-to-confiscate-your/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [“The key is to pump up your righteous anger and mute your petty resentment. I'll be happy if I can get that balance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/the-key-is-to-pump-up-your-righteous-anger-and-mute-your-petty/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [I'd like to see feminism really be more loving. Feminists have a lot of righteous anger, and have done a lot to fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-sprinkle/i-d-like-to-see-feminism-really-be-more-loving-feminists-have-a-lot/) [Annie Sprinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-sprinkle/) > [Pain can be endured and defeated only if it is embraced. Denied or feared, it grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/pain-can-be-endured-and-defeated-only-if-it-is-embraced-denied-or/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [So there is such a thing as perfect hatred, just as there is such a thing as righteous anger. But it is a hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/so-there-is-such-a-thing-as-perfect-hatred-just-as-there-is-such-a/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) ## More by Dorothy Allison > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People don't do right because of the fear of God or love of him. You do right because the world doesn't make sense if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-don-t-do-right-because-of-the-fear-of-god-or-love-of-him-you/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I had to say to her that it isn’t just men, and it isn’t just men “like that.” I had to talk to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-had-to-say-to-her-that-it-isn-t-just-men-and-it-isn-t-just-men-like/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Entitlement, I have told them, is a matter of feeling like we rather than they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/entitlement-i-have-told-them-is-a-matter-of-feeling-like-we-rather/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Love was something I would not have to worry about - the whole mystery of love, heartbreak songs, and family legends. Women who pined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/love-was-something-i-would-not-have-to-worry-about-the-whole-mystery/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“Behind the story I tell is the one I don't. Behind the story you hear is the one I wish I could make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/behind-the-story-i-tell-is-the-one-i-don-t-behind-the-story-you-hear/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Hunger makes you restless. you dream about food - not just any food, but perfect food, the best food, magical meals, famous and awe-inspiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/hunger-makes-you-restless-you-dream-about-food-not-just-any-food-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [People begin to write in order to create what they have not found and, a little bit, to give something back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/people-begin-to-write-in-order-to-create-what-they-have-not-found-and/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [The hardest thing to teach young writers is that it's wonderful to tell your truth. And that's what you should do. But it damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-hardest-thing-to-teach-young-writers-is-that-it-s-wonderful-to/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“The horror of class stratification, racism, and prejudice is that some people begin to believe that the security of their families and communities depends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/the-horror-of-class-stratification-racism-and-prejudice-is-that-some/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I did not begin with craft, I began with strong feelings and worked toward craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-did-not-begin-with-craft-i-began-with-strong-feelings-and-worked/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/i-think-i-would-have-died-if-there-hadn-t-been-the-women-s-movement-2/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [When I was growing up, I always read horror books, while my sister read romance novels. My sister became unmarried and pregnant during high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-read-horror-books-while-my-sister-read/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) [Explore all 189 Dorothy Allison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a place where we are always alone with our own mortality, where we must simply have something greater than ourselves to hold onto-God or history or politics or literature or a belief in the healing power of love, or even righteous anger… A reason to believe, a way to take the world by the throat and insist that there is more to this life than we have ever imagined.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy Allison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alone-with-our-own-mortality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alone-with-our-own-mortality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80f/dorothy-allison-2041_belief_there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alo_1662805.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a place where we are always alone with our own mortality, where we must simply have something…” — Dorothy Allison", "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": "Dorothy Allison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a place where we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alone-with-our-own-mortality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/there-is-a-place-where-we-are-always-alone-with-our-own-mortality/#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 } } ] } ```