--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't know then that I would never be…" description: "\"I didn't know then that I would never be able to leave the sounds and smells of these sights behind me, but I was fiercely conscious of one thing-my am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76f/emanuel-celler-18605_able_i-didn-t-know-then-that-i-would-never-be_2464193.png" --- # I didn't know then that I would never be able to leave the… ![“I didn't know then that I would never be able to leave the sounds and smells of these sights behind me, but I was fiercely conscious of one thing-my ambition.” quote by Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76f/emanuel-celler-18605_able_i-didn-t-know-then-that-i-would-never-be_2464193.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76f/emanuel-celler-18605_able_i-didn-t-know-then-that-i-would-never-be_2464193.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76f/emanuel-celler-18605_able_i-didn-t-know-then-that-i-would-never-be_2464193.png) > “I didn't know then that I would never be able to leave the sounds and smells of these sights behind me, but I was fiercely conscious of one thing-my ambition.” [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition drives one to cling to sensory memories, even when they become burdensome. **In simple terms:** Ambition keeps you attached to experiences. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with letting go. Themes ambition memory sensory experience Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - travel memories - personal growth Key Concepts psychology motivation Questions to Reflect On - What memories fuel your ambition? - When should you release past sensations? A Different Perspective Ambition can blind you to present reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Fiercely Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiercely-conscious-690488/) [My ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-ambition/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Sights Fiercely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sights-fiercely-690486/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Smells Sights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smells-sights-690487/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Thing Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-ambition-690489/) ## Related quotes > [Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-betjeman/childhood-is-measured-out-by-sounds-and-smells-and-sights-before-the/) [John Betjeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-betjeman/) > [“Travel does this: it creates space that allows thoughts and memories to intrude and assert themselves with impunity. Smells and sights, the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/travel-does-this-it-creates-space-that-allows-thoughts-and-memories/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [It's an ugly thing to see ambition and to see people satisfying themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/it-s-an-ugly-thing-to-see-ambition-and-to-see-people-satisfying/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [Like, the smells and the sights and the sounds. As an artist, you want to sort of be able to engage that and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/like-the-smells-and-the-sights-and-the-sounds-as-an-artist-you-want/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [To become Christ-like is the only thing in the whole world worth caring for, the thing before which every ambition of man is folly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-drummond/to-become-christ-like-is-the-only-thing-in-the-whole-world-worth/) [Henry Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-drummond/) > [“The odd thing about ambition is this: You can acquire it like a fever, but it is not so easy to shed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/the-odd-thing-about-ambition-is-this-you-can-acquire-it-like-a-fever/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [I am trying so very hard to stay in the moment despite the ferocity of my ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-am-trying-so-very-hard-to-stay-in-the-moment-despite-the-ferocity/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [As falls the dew on quenchless sands, blood only serves to wash ambition's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/as-falls-the-dew-on-quenchless-sands-blood-only-serves-to-wash/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/as-to-methods-there-may-be-a-million-and-then-some-but-principles-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [My ambitions have ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/my-ambitions-have-ambitions/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I came to New York to be a fine artist - that was my ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-came-to-new-york-to-be-a-fine-artist-that-was-my-ambition/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [For all may have, If they dare to try, a glorious life, or grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/for-all-may-have-if-they-dare-to-try-a-glorious-life-or-grave/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [When I was doing Shakespeare and I had spent a lot of time and effort in trying to become a great Shakespearean actress. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/when-i-was-doing-shakespeare-and-i-had-spent-a-lot-of-time-and-effort/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [My ambition when I was four years old was to be married.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/my-ambition-when-i-was-four-years-old-was-to-be-married/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [My ambition is to one day shed my wardrobe and figure out how to look like Gilles Bensimon - or a famous stylist -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finch/my-ambition-is-to-one-day-shed-my-wardrobe-and-figure-out-how-to-look/) [Charles Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finch/) ## More by Emanuel Celler > [Illegality will never solve the problem of political lawlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/illegality-will-never-solve-the-problem-of-political-lawlessness/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [I became the head of the household. I went to school in the morning and sold wines all afternoon until seven o'clock in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/i-became-the-head-of-the-household-i-went-to-school-in-the-morning/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [Communism which feeds on aggression, hatred, and the imprisonment of men's minds and souls shall not take root in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/communism-which-feeds-on-aggression-hatred-and-the-imprisonment-of/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [The studied, unquestioning pace of my family irritated me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/the-studied-unquestioning-pace-of-my-family-irritated-me/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [People were hurt, and because they were hurt, they were angry and quarreled and were jealous of one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/people-were-hurt-and-because-they-were-hurt-they-were-angry-and/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [As we have seen so clearly demonstrated in Europe, hate breeds hate and the vicious circle revolves with all its attending madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/as-we-have-seen-so-clearly-demonstrated-in-europe-hate-breeds-hate/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [The inferior complex is now extended to all Europe, save Nordics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/the-inferior-complex-is-now-extended-to-all-europe-save-nordics/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [The Democratic Party will never desert the freedoms of our people under the guise of pretending to protect them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/the-democratic-party-will-never-desert-the-freedoms-of-our-people/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [The power to investigate is a great public trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/the-power-to-investigate-is-a-great-public-trust/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [The rate of population growth in the United States is slightly below that required to reproduce itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/the-rate-of-population-growth-in-the-united-states-is-slightly-below/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [Our population is headed for a stable plateau, which means an aging population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/our-population-is-headed-for-a-stable-plateau-which-means-an-aging/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [In our house we repeated the pattern of thousands of other homes. There were a few books and a lot of music. Our food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/in-our-house-we-repeated-the-pattern-of-thousands-of-other-homes/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [I had fought against the unjust restriction of immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/i-had-fought-against-the-unjust-restriction-of-immigration/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [We can't have these great corporations crowding competition off the sidewalks. It's like an elephant saying, "Everyone for himself," as he dances among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/we-can-t-have-these-great-corporations-crowding-competition-off-the/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [My wife - to-be and I went to see my father. Only he could answer the two questions before us: Shall we get married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/my-wife-to-be-and-i-went-to-see-my-father-only-he-could-answer-the/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) [Explore all 34 Emanuel Celler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [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/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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