--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To seize the flying thought before it…" description: "\"To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality.\" — Ellen Glasgow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png" --- # To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our… ![“To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality.” quote by Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png) > “To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality.” [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Capturing fleeting ideas before they vanish keeps us grounded in reality. **In simple terms:** Catch thoughts early to stay real. Key Takeaway Act quickly on ideas. Themes creativity mindfulness reality Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - writing - brainstorming - problem solving - artistic creation Key Concepts ephemerality focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you preserve fleeting ideas? - What tools help you act fast? A Different Perspective Ideas can be elusive; quick capture may miss depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [Unhappie Verse, the witnesse of my unhappie state, Make thy selfe fluttring wings of thy fast flying Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/unhappie-verse-the-witnesse-of-my-unhappie-state-make-thy-selfe/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“Once I dreamed of flying, she thought, and now I’ve flown, and dream of stealing eggs. That made her laugh. “Men are mad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/once-i-dreamed-of-flying-she-thought-and-now-i-ve-flown-and-dream-of/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [I loved flying as much as I thought I would and continue to fly aircraft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/i-loved-flying-as-much-as-i-thought-i-would-and-continue-to-fly/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Over time, I have realised that it is important to stay grounded and keep in touch with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-vidyarthi/over-time-i-have-realised-that-it-is-important-to-stay-grounded-and/) [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-vidyarthi/) > [I watch '60 Minutes' and 'Dateline' and '20/20.' I work in fantasy all day, so when I go home I want to touch reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/i-watch-60-minutes-and-dateline-and-20-20-i-work-in-fantasy-all-day/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [I work in fantasy all day, so when I go home, I want to touch reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/i-work-in-fantasy-all-day-so-when-i-go-home-i-want-to-touch-reality/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [Jesus is not "out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/jesus-is-not-out-of-touch-with-our-reality-he-s-been-through-weakness/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“We touch the last reality directly in prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-touch-the-last-reality-directly-in-prayer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was not in touch with reality. Growing up, I was being shielded without my knowing it, because even all the way up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willis-earl-beal/i-was-not-in-touch-with-reality-growing-up-i-was-being-shielded/) [Willis Earl Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willis-earl-beal/) > [I think the actor or performer should be - to touch that truth inside of a person. Touch that reality so much that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-think-the-actor-or-performer-should-be-to-touch-that-truth-inside/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [In order to dream, you need to have a springboard which is the facts... It gives it that touch of reality, and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-leigh/in-order-to-dream-you-need-to-have-a-springboard-which-is-the-facts/) [Janet Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-leigh/) > [When I think of the things I have, it makes me a little uneasy. I don't want people to think I've lost touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/when-i-think-of-the-things-i-have-it-makes-me-a-little-uneasy-i-don-t/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [How can I even describe. What it is you do to me. You've taken over my senses. I've lost touch with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/how-can-i-even-describe-what-it-is-you-do-to-me-you-ve-taken-over-my/) Butterfly\_Kisses > [I'm fortunate enough to make a great living, but I'm not out of touch with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/i-m-fortunate-enough-to-make-a-great-living-but-i-m-not-out-of-touch/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [“I'm not out of touch with reality; I've just got my eyes on eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cobb/i-m-not-out-of-touch-with-reality-i-ve-just-got-my-eyes-on-eternity/) Daniel Cobb ## More by Ellen Glasgow > [Too much principle is often more harmful than too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/too-much-principle-is-often-more-harmful-than-too-little/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I have watchedmany literary fashions shoot up and blossom, and then fade and drop… Yet with the many that I have seen comeand go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-have-watchedmany-literary-fashions-shoot-up-and-blossom-and-then/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [After a day of rain the sun came out suddenly at five o'clock and threw a golden bar into the deep Victorian gloom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/after-a-day-of-rain-the-sun-came-out-suddenly-at-five-o-clock-and/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [What I hated even more than the conflict was the lurid spectacle of a world of unreason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/what-i-hated-even-more-than-the-conflict-was-the-lurid-spectacle-of-a/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Preserve, within a wild sanctuary, an inaccessible valley of reverie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/preserve-within-a-wild-sanctuary-an-inaccessible-valley-of-reverie/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [The attraction of horror is a mental, or even an intellectual, excitement, but the fascination of the repulsive, so noticeable incontemporary writing, can spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-attraction-of-horror-is-a-mental-or-even-an-intellectual/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I was always a feminist, for I liked intellectual revolt as much as I disliked physical violence. On the whole, I think women havelost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-was-always-a-feminist-for-i-liked-intellectual-revolt-as-much-as-i/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Although the primitive in art may be both interesting and impressive, as portrayed in American fiction it is conspicuous for dullness alone. Drab persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/although-the-primitive-in-art-may-be-both-interesting-and-impressive/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Do you know there is always a barrier between me and any man or woman who does not like dogs?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/do-you-know-there-is-always-a-barrier-between-me-and-any-man-or-woman/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [You look as if you lived on duty and it hadn't;t agreed with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/you-look-as-if-you-lived-on-duty-and-it-hadn-t-t-agreed-with-you/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [there are times when life surprises one, and anything may happen, even what one had hoped for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/there-are-times-when-life-surprises-one-and-anything-may-happen-even/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [Life may take away happiness. But it can't take away having had it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/life-may-take-away-happiness-but-it-can-t-take-away-having-had-it/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [So long as one is able to pose one has still much to learn about suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/so-long-as-one-is-able-to-pose-one-has-still-much-to-learn-about/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [...I had grown up in a world that was dominated by immature age. Not by vigorous immaturity, but by immaturity that was old and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-had-grown-up-in-a-world-that-was-dominated-by-immature-age-not-by/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [I hated the things they believe in, the things they so innocently and charmingly pretended. I hated the sanctimonious piety that let people hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/i-hated-the-things-they-believe-in-the-things-they-so-innocently-and/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) [Explore all 200 Ellen Glasgow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) ## More Flying quotes > [A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/a-draft-doesn-t-produce-the-people-we-need-to-satisfy-our-real/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Being on a trapeze is like dreaming. I feel totally outside of myself when I'm flying. You know, designing shoes, my imagination is flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/being-on-a-trapeze-is-like-dreaming-i-feel-totally-outside-of-myself/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Yeah, I'm the Brit who isn't Lewis Hamilton that woke up and realised he was good. I got that tag because I was young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/yeah-i-m-the-brit-who-isn-t-lewis-hamilton-that-woke-up-and-realised/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [I was born imagining myself with an apron on, with pies cooling on the window sill and babies crying upstairs. I thought that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-was-born-imagining-myself-with-an-apron-on-with-pies-cooling-on-the/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [“LOW-FLYING, QUICK-MOVING CLOUDS: I haven't long to live. TREETOPS, ROUNDED AND ROUGH: That's probably true. LOW-FLYING, QUICK-MOVING CLOUDS: I won't even make it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/low-flying-quick-moving-clouds-i-haven-t-long-to-live-treetops/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [“You don’t see someone flying and you begin to bite yourself for not being able to do that. You do what you can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-don-t-see-someone-flying-and-you-begin-to-bite-yourself-for-not/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Everything is winged in this universe, even a rock! When the time comes, rock crumbles into tiny pieces and starts flying in the air!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/everything-is-winged-in-this-universe-even-a-rock-when-the-time-comes/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 2,216 Flying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Glasgow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-escapes-us-is-our-only-touch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flying" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-escapes-us-is-our-only-touch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/ellen-glasgow-1897_flying_to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-es_3220091.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To seize the flying thought before it escapes us is our only touch with reality.” — Ellen Glasgow", "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": "Ellen Glasgow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To seize the flying thought before...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-escapes-us-is-our-only-touch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/to-seize-the-flying-thought-before-it-escapes-us-is-our-only-touch/#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 } } ] } ```