--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps we only leave So we may once…" description: "\"“Perhaps we only leave So we may once again arrive, To get a bird's eye view Of what it means to be alive. For there is beauty in returning, Oh how won..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/erin-hanson-63951_arrive_perhaps-we-only-leave-so-we-may-once-aga_738132.jpg" --- # Perhaps we only leave So we may once again arrive, To get… ![“Perhaps we only leave So we may once again arrive, To get a bird's eye view Of what it means to be alive. For there is beauty in returning, Oh how wonderful, how strange, To see that everything is different But know it's only you who's changed.” quote by Erin Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/erin-hanson-63951_arrive_perhaps-we-only-leave-so-we-may-once-aga_738132.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/erin-hanson-63951_arrive_perhaps-we-only-leave-so-we-may-once-aga_738132.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dc/erin-hanson-63951_arrive_perhaps-we-only-leave-so-we-may-once-aga_738132.jpg) > ““Perhaps we only leave So we may once again arrive, To get a bird's eye view Of what it means to be alive. For there is beauty in returning, Oh how wonderful, how strange, To see that everything is different But know it's only you who's changed.”” [Erin Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We leave to return, gaining new perspective; change is internal while the world stays familiar. **In simple terms:** Leaving helps us see anew; change is within us. Key Takeaway Embrace change and view life with fresh eyes. Themes growth perspective change identity Mood reflective inspirational Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - travel experiences - personal transformation - creative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophy of self cyclical journey mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does “returning” mean to you? - How do you recognize internal change? A Different Perspective Returning may not always bring clarity; external change can be unsettling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrive/) [Arrive Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrive-bird-5769136/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Returning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-returning-5769135/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Discover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discover/) [Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave/) [Leave Arrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-arrive-3440595/) [Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Means Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-alive-707954/) [Returning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/returning/) [Soul searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-searching/) [Strangeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangeness/) [Viewpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoint/) ## Related quotes > [“I leave to arrive, go away to be closer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nils-aslak-valkeap/i-leave-to-arrive-go-away-to-be-closer/) [Nils-Aslak Valkeapää](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nils-aslak-valkeap/) > [Stop trying to leave, and you will arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/stop-trying-to-leave-and-you-will-arrive/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Struggle is what it means to be alive and free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-budbill/struggle-is-what-it-means-to-be-alive-and-free/) [David Budbill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-budbill/) > [“You never feel more aware of what it means to be alive than when you're falling in love. Or dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bassett/you-never-feel-more-aware-of-what-it-means-to-be-alive-than-when-you/) [Kate Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bassett/) > [“You have no idea," he says to me, "what it means to truly suffer. Sometimes I think you live in some fantasy land where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/you-have-no-idea-he-says-to-me-what-it-means-to-truly-suffer/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [When things are going bad, don't get all bummed out. Don't get startled; don't get frustrated. If you can say the word 'good,' guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocko-willink/when-things-are-going-bad-don-t-get-all-bummed-out-don-t-get-startled/) [Jocko Willink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocko-willink/) > [“G. K. Chesterton wrote: “A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.”2 Change means you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hatmaker/g-k-chesterton-wrote-a-dead-thing-can-go-with-the-stream-but-only-a/) [Jen Hatmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-hatmaker/) > [“Life's a riddle, child," he said lightly, "but if you can feel the bumps on the road, it means you're alive and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-a-belmond/life-s-a-riddle-child-he-said-lightly-but-if-you-can-feel-the-bumps/) [C.A. Belmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-a-belmond/) > [I enjoy life when things are happening. I don't care if it's good things or bad things. That means you're alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-enjoy-life-when-things-are-happening-i-don-t-care-if-it-s-good/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [“I’m fated to lose everyone I ever love,” April said. “I already know that.” “Of course you are,” Jet responded in her calm, measured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/i-m-fated-to-lose-everyone-i-ever-love-april-said-i-already-know-that/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [To me, the research is a way of exploring what it means to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/to-me-the-research-is-a-way-of-exploring-what-it-means-to-be-alive/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [The goal of being alive is to figure out what it means to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-goal-of-being-alive-is-to-figure-out-what-it-means-to-be-alive/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [“And as the ax bites into the wood, be comforted in the fact that the ache in your heart and the confusion in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harding/and-as-the-ax-bites-into-the-wood-be-comforted-in-the-fact-that-the/) [Paul Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harding/) > [“Yet if I was asked to do this again - in fact, if I was ever asked to repeat any of my experiences -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/yet-if-i-was-asked-to-do-this-again-in-fact-if-i-was-ever-asked-to/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [You're alive, Bianca. You still can't appreciate what it means, to be alive. It's better than being a vampire - better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/you-re-alive-bianca-you-still-can-t-appreciate-what-it-means-to-be/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) ## More by Erin Hanson > [“Because the birdsong might be pretty, But it's not for you they sing, And if you think my winter is too cold, You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hanson/because-the-birdsong-might-be-pretty-but-it-s-not-for-you-they-sing/) [Erin Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hanson/) > [“There is a fable in the forest Whispered by the branches, as they blow. A tale about the truth of leaving Things that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hanson/there-is-a-fable-in-the-forest-whispered-by-the-branches-as-they-blow/) [Erin Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hanson/) > [“There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask "What if I fall?" Oh but my darling, What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hanson/there-is-freedom-waiting-for-you-on-the-breezes-of-the-sky-and-you/) [Erin Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hanson/) > [“The irony of life Is our greatest fear is to forget, Yet it's the only certain fate That anything has ever met. 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Twists in my characters' lives, glimpses of their secrets, obstacles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/in-my-head-at-least-the-business-of-spinning-stories-has-no-closing/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [When you come to America, it's a very serious thing. It's not like you arrive and they say, 'Hey, come on! Do movies!' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-q/when-you-come-to-america-it-s-a-very-serious-thing-it-s-not-like-you/) [Maggie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-q/) > [God is our name for the last generalization to which we can arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/god-is-our-name-for-the-last-generalization-to-which-we-can-arrive/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've always been very good at convincing people. For instance, if I arrive in an airport and I'm in economy, I can always convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-ve-always-been-very-good-at-convincing-people-for-instance-if-i/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [Through doubt we arrive at the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/through-doubt-we-arrive-at-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Hello?” he said, waiting out the shrill stream on the other end of the line. He smiled, “Because I’m her husband. I can answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/hello-he-said-waiting-out-the-shrill-stream-on-the-other-end-of-the/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [When you arrive where you thought you wanted to be, you'll just begin a new journey so enjoy each step along the way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-you-arrive-where-you-thought-you-wanted-to-be-you-ll-just-begin/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“No, how can one preserve one's life and at the same time arrive at the truth?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-solschenizyn/no-how-can-one-preserve-one-s-life-and-at-the-same-time-arrive-at-the/) [Alexander Solschenizyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-solschenizyn/) > [Cinema is made to film material: the body. By filming the material, the mechanical, the worker, we arrive at the spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/cinema-is-made-to-film-material-the-body-by-filming-the-material-the/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [I like to arrive in the box often and I don't care if I'm there as a no. 9 or a no. 10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/i-like-to-arrive-in-the-box-often-and-i-don-t-care-if-i-m-there-as-a/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) > [Some wonder whether some day we will arrive at a theory of everything and run out of new problems to solve - much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gross/some-wonder-whether-some-day-we-will-arrive-at-a-theory-of-everything/) [David Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gross/) [Browse all 183 Arrive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps we only leave So we may once again arrive, To get a bird's eye view Of what it means to be alive. 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