--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She faced him, sitting up very straight…" description: "\"“She faced him, sitting up very straight in bed, the little wool shawl hunched about her shoulders. “Dirk, are you ever going back to architecture? The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/edna-ferber-3893_around-the-corner_she-faced-him-sitting-up-very-straight-i_1185833.png" --- # She faced him, sitting up very straight in bed, the little… ![“She faced him, sitting up very straight in bed, the little wool shawl hunched about her shoulders. “Dirk, are you ever going back to architecture? The war is history, it’s now or never with you. Pretty soon it will be too late. Are you ever going back to architecture? To your profession? A clean…” quote by Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/edna-ferber-3893_around-the-corner_she-faced-him-sitting-up-very-straight-i_1185833.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/edna-ferber-3893_around-the-corner_she-faced-him-sitting-up-very-straight-i_1185833.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/edna-ferber-3893_around-the-corner_she-faced-him-sitting-up-very-straight-i_1185833.png) > ““She faced him, sitting up very straight in bed, the little wool shawl hunched about her shoulders. “Dirk, are you ever going back to architecture? The war is history, it’s now or never with you. Pretty soon it will be too late. Are you ever going back to architecture? To your profession? A clean amputation. “No, Mother.” She gave an actual gasp, as though icy water had been thrown full in her face. She looked suddenly old, tired. Her shoulders sagged. He stood in the doorway, braced for her reproaches. But when she spoke it was to reproach herself. “Then I’m a failure.” “Oh, what nonsense, Mother. I’m happy. You can’t live somebody else’s life. You used to tell me, when I was a kid I remember, that life wasn’t just an adventure, to be taken as it came, with the hope that something glorious was hidden just around the corner. You said you had lived that way and it hadn’t worked. You said ——” She interrupted him with a little cry. “I know I did. I know I did.” Suddenly she raised a warning finger. Her eyes were luminous, prophetic. “Dirk, you can’t desert her like that!” “Desert who?” He was startled. “Beauty! Self-expression. Whatever you want to call it. You wait! She’ll turn on you some day. Some day you’ll want her, and she won’t be there.”” [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A mother confronts her son about abandoning his passion, fearing loss of identity and future regret, while the son defends living authentically. **In simple terms:** Mother worries son will regret abandoning his dream; son insists on being true to himself. Key Takeaway Choose authenticity over fear of failure. Themes family identity regret authenticity fear Mood torn hopeful reflective Type advice philosophical dialogue When to use this quote - career decisions - family expectations - personal growth - creative pursuits - life‑changing choices Key Concepts existentialism self‑actualization generational conflict Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - How do you balance personal dreams with family expectations? A Different Perspective The son’s perspective may overlook the mother’s emotional stakes and the practical consequences of abandoning a profession. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [“Jo claimed that the reason people survived breakups was that within days of the amputation, Mother Nature started reminding you of what you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/jo-claimed-that-the-reason-people-survived-breakups-was-that-within/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [My son's name is Dirk - I named Dirk Pitt after him when he was about three years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-cussler/my-son-s-name-is-dirk-i-named-dirk-pitt-after-him-when-he-was-about/) [Clive Cussler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-cussler/) > [He can play. He can shoot. He can dribble. He can pass. He's a great player. Period. No question about it. And if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/he-can-play-he-can-shoot-he-can-dribble-he-can-pass-he-s-a-great/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Dirk was obviously a player that I looked up to. In high school I actually wore No. 41 in honor of Dirk. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/dirk-was-obviously-a-player-that-i-looked-up-to-in-high-school-i/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [If Dallas wins the championship this year, MVP without a doubt would be Dirk Nowitzki.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-dallas-wins-the-championship-this-year-mvp-without-a-doubt-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When he fell down the stairs, he told people he'd had a stroke. He was just pissed out of his skull. I love Dirk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-gardner/when-he-fell-down-the-stairs-he-told-people-he-d-had-a-stroke-he-was/) [Ava Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-gardner/) > [Dirk Nowitzki will be better than Larry Bird. I'm a legend killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/dirk-nowitzki-will-be-better-than-larry-bird-i-m-a-legend-killer/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [There will never be another Dirk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/there-will-never-be-another-dirk/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [“Like a slapstick comedian, Dirk suffered all kinds of iniquities. He battled past Mud Men, skeletons, creepy crawlies, giant bats and an obstinate suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-a-slapstick-comedian-dirk-suffered-all-kinds-of-iniquities-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Dirk Gently\] just doesn't understand social cues. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/dirk-gently-just-doesn-t-understand-social-cues/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Dirk nowitzki is the key to everything in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/dirk-nowitzki-is-the-key-to-everything-in-life/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [ The great irony to Dirk \[Gently\] is that he sees connections in everything, but the one thing he fails and struggles with most is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/the-great-irony-to-dirk-gently-is-that-he-sees-connections-in/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Dirk carried an amazing load with the Dallas Mavericks over a period of two-plus decades that may never be rivaled again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/dirk-carried-an-amazing-load-with-the-dallas-mavericks-over-a-period/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) > [Dirk was, for one of the few times in a life of exuberantly prolific loquacity, wordless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/dirk-was-for-one-of-the-few-times-in-a-life-of-exuberantly-prolific/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I hear a lot of comparisons to Dirk so of course I watched him when I was growing up, especially when I started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-hear-a-lot-of-comparisons-to-dirk-so-of-course-i-watched-him-when-i/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) ## More by Edna Ferber > [People in big empty places are likely to behave very much as the gods did on Olympus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/people-in-big-empty-places-are-likely-to-behave-very-much-as-the-gods/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Housework's the hardest work in the world. That's why men won't do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/housework-s-the-hardest-work-in-the-world-that-s-why-men-won-t-do-it/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It was part of theTexas ritual? We know about champagne and caviar but we talk hog and hominy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-was-part-of-thetexas-ritual-we-know-about-champagne-and-caviar-but/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It's terrible to realize that you don't learn how to live until you're ready to die; and, then it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-s-terrible-to-realize-that-you-don-t-learn-how-to-live-until-you/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [The goat's business is none of the sheep's concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/the-goat-s-business-is-none-of-the-sheep-s-concern/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [I sometimes wonder ... if the land is not destroying the people who inhabit it as the people who inhabit it are destroying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/i-sometimes-wonder-if-the-land-is-not-destroying-the-people-who/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [All the difference in the world between the movies and the thrill I get out of a play at the theater. Ay, yes! Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-movies-and-the-thrill-i/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [It's difficult to write a really good short story because it must be a complete and finished reflection of life with only a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/it-s-difficult-to-write-a-really-good-short-story-because-it-must-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Now gae your wa'sTho'anes as gude As ever happit flesh and blude, Yet part we maunthe case sae hard is, Amang the writers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/now-gae-your-wa-stho-anes-as-gude-as-ever-happit-flesh-and-blude-yet/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [But I have felt that to be a Jew was, in some ways at least, to be especially privileged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/but-i-have-felt-that-to-be-a-jew-was-in-some-ways-at-least-to-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [I think in order to write really well and convincingly, one must be somewhat poisoned by emotion, dislike, displeasure, resentment, fault-finding, imagination, passionate remonstrance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/i-think-in-order-to-write-really-well-and-convincingly-one-must-be/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [“Then there were long, lazy summer afternoons when there was nothing to do but read. And dream. And watch the town go by to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/then-there-were-long-lazy-summer-afternoons-when-there-was-nothing-to/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [A woman can look both moral and exciting... if she also looks as if it was quite a struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/a-woman-can-look-both-moral-and-exciting-if-she-also-looks-as-if-it/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [Funny, isn't it, how your whole life goes by while you think you're only planning the way you're going to live it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/funny-isn-t-it-how-your-whole-life-goes-by-while-you-think-you-re/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) > [There's no sauce for play like work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/there-s-no-sauce-for-play-like-work/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) [Explore all 120 Edna Ferber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) ## More Around the corner quotes > [I feel excited about getting older as an actress, too. I think there are some amazing opportunities around the corner and I don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/i-feel-excited-about-getting-older-as-an-actress-too-i-think-there/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [You'll never see me coming around the corner not smiling... I mean, I enjoy every moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/you-ll-never-see-me-coming-around-the-corner-not-smiling-i-mean-i/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'd never think of taking a cab if you had to walk a mile down Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But in a bad city you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/you-d-never-think-of-taking-a-cab-if-you-had-to-walk-a-mile-down/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [With the great people that you work with, it's that they're never giving up and they're never thinking something's finished until they've really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/with-the-great-people-that-you-work-with-it-s-that-they-re-never/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [At some point during almost every romantic comedy, the female lead suddenly trips and falls, stumbling helplessly over something ridiculous like a leaf, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/at-some-point-during-almost-every-romantic-comedy-the-female-lead/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [“A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/a-courteous-war-mage-the-world-really-was-coming-to-an-end-and-then/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You don't know what's coming for you in life, and you don't know what's around the corner. When you're in a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-h-wyman/you-don-t-know-what-s-coming-for-you-in-life-and-you-don-t-know-what/) [J.H. Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-h-wyman/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [One thing that's certain: around the corner from every ugly thing, there's something really beautiful. If we stop at every bitter interaction; we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/one-thing-that-s-certain-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-thing/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [And as I reinvent myself and I'm constantly curious about everything, I can't wait to see what's around the corner in newfound art and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/and-as-i-reinvent-myself-and-i-m-constantly-curious-about-everything/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [I know what is around the corner - I just don't know where the corner is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keegan/i-know-what-is-around-the-corner-i-just-don-t-know-where-the-corner-is/) [Kevin Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keegan/) > [I love being the age I am, because if there's enough pain or grief, I have enough experience now to realize that there's joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gilbert/i-love-being-the-age-i-am-because-if-there-s-enough-pain-or-grief-i/) [Sara Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gilbert/) Browse all 569 Around the corner quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She faced him, sitting up very straight in bed, the little wool shawl hunched about her shoulders. “Dirk, are you ever going back to architecture? The war is history, it’s now or never with you. Pretty soon it will be too late. Are you ever going back to architecture? To your profession? A clean amputation. “No, Mother.” She gave an actual gasp, as though icy water had been thrown full in her face. She looked suddenly old, tired. Her shoulders sagged. He stood in the doorway, braced for her reproaches. But when she spoke it was to reproach herself. “Then I’m a failure.” “Oh, what nonsense, Mother. I’m happy. You can’t live somebody else’s life. You used to tell me, when I was a kid I remember, that life wasn’t just an adventure, to be taken as it came, with the hope that something glorious was hidden just around the corner. You said you had lived that way and it hadn’t worked. You said ——” She interrupted him with a little cry. “I know I did. I know I did.” Suddenly she raised a warning finger. Her eyes were luminous, prophetic. “Dirk, you can’t desert her like that!” “Desert who?” He was startled. “Beauty! Self-expression. 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