---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [W]e are almost always in one place with…"
description: "\"[W]e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.\" — Ford Madox Ford"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png"
---

#  \[W\]e are almost always in one place with our minds…

![“&#91;W&#93;e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.” quote by Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png)

> “\[W\]e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.”

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Our thoughts often drift away while we physically stay still, highlighting mental distraction.

**In simple terms:** Minds wander even when bodies stay put.

Key Takeaway

Practice present‑moment awareness.

Themes

mindfulness distraction presence

Mood

thoughtful contemplative

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- work
- study
- meditation
- travel

Key Concepts

cognitive wandering attention

Questions to Reflect On

- How often do you notice mental wandering?
- What techniques keep you grounded?

A Different Perspective

Staying physically still can still be mentally active.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds/) [Minds Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds-quite-2128912/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Place Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-minds-2128911/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Quite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quite/)

## Related quotes

> [ “\[W\]e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.” ― Ford Madox Ford, Critical Essays of Ford Madox Ford” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with-our-minds-somewhere-quite-2/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [Although I don't know Oslo at all, there is something about the feel or the smell of the place that feels like home, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/although-i-don-t-know-oslo-at-all-there-is-something-about-the-feel/)

[Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/)

> [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [People who are right most of the time are people who change their minds often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/people-who-are-right-most-of-the-time-are-people-who-change-their/)

[Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/)

> [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/)

[Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/)

> [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/)

[Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/)

> [The Bushes were certainly part of Texas in their mind, but they didn't have the kind of political flavor that you normally find in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-bushes-were-certainly-part-of-texas-in-their-mind-but-they-didn-t/)

[Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/)

> [“Creativity means bringing simplicity to the existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/creativity-means-bringing-simplicity-to-the-existing/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/)

[Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/)

> [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/)

[Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/)

> [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/)

[Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/)

> [“they're fucking up minds they do not own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carroll/they-re-fucking-up-minds-they-do-not-own/)

[jim carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carroll/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [What I love most about Her Majesty is that she has kept hats alive in people's minds for more than 60 years. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/what-i-love-most-about-her-majesty-is-that-she-has-kept-hats-alive-in/)

[Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/)

> [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/)

[Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/)

## More by Ford Madox Ford

> [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“You can't kill a minuet de la coeur. You may shut up the music book... but surely the minuet-- the minuet itself is dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/you-can-t-kill-a-minuet-de-la-coeur-you-may-shut-up-the-music-book/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“You see in such a world as this, an idealist -or perhaps it's only a sentimentalist-must be stoned to death. He makes the others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/you-see-in-such-a-world-as-this-an-idealist-or-perhaps-it-s-only-a/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“A gentleman in those days consulted his heirs about tree planting. Should you plant a group of copper beeches against a group of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/a-gentleman-in-those-days-consulted-his-heirs-about-tree-planting/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“How was it possible that the most honourable man she knew should be so overwhelmed by foul and baseless rumours? It made you suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/how-was-it-possible-that-the-most-honourable-man-she-knew-should-be/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [It is not merely that people must die and people must suffer, if not here, then there. But what is dreadful is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/it-is-not-merely-that-people-must-die-and-people-must-suffer-if-not/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“But upon my word, I don't know how we put in our time. How does one put in one's time? How is it possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/but-upon-my-word-i-don-t-know-how-we-put-in-our-time-how-does-one-put/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [In every man there are two minds that work side by side, the one checking the other; thus emotion stands against reason, intellect corrects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/in-every-man-there-are-two-minds-that-work-side-by-side-the-one/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“No, by God, it is false! It wasn't a minuet that we stepped; it was a prison - a prison full of screaming hysterics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/no-by-god-it-is-false-it-wasn-t-a-minuet-that-we-stepped-it-was-a/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [Damn it all, it's the first duty of a soldier - it's the first duty of all Englishmen - to be able to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/damn-it-all-it-s-the-first-duty-of-a-soldier-it-s-the-first-duty-of/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“Yes, society must go on; it must breed, like rabbits. That is what we are here for. But then, I don't like society—much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/yes-society-must-go-on-it-must-breed-like-rabbits-that-is-what-we-are/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“The signal for the train's departure was a very bright red; that is about as passionate a statement as I can get into that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-signal-for-the-train-s-departure-was-a-very-bright-red-that-is/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [The world is full of places to which I want to return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/the-world-is-full-of-places-to-which-i-want-to-return/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [...she had always known under her mind and now she confessed it: her agony had been, half of it, because one day he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/she-had-always-known-under-her-mind-and-now-she-confessed-it-her/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

> [“I like the slow, smooth roll of the great big trains—and they are the best trains in the world! I like being drawn through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/i-like-the-slow-smooth-roll-of-the-great-big-trains-and-they-are-the/)

[Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

[Explore all 124 Ford Madox Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/)

## More Mind quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [“MIND &amp; 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/)

> [“He blinked. His eyes fell as he processed her response. Then he lifted his chin and attempted a grin that was almost painfully dejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/he-blinked-his-eyes-fell-as-he-processed-her-response-then-he-lifted/)

[Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/)

> [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/)

[Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/)

[Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/)

[A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 43,542 Mind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "[W]e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ford Madox Ford"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with-our-minds-somewhere-quite/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Mind"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with-our-minds-somewhere-quite/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/467/ford-madox-ford-3409_mind_w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with_595239.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“[W]e are almost always in one place with our minds somewhere quite other.” — Ford Madox Ford",
                "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": "Ford Madox Ford",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "[W]e are almost always in one...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with-our-minds-somewhere-quite/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/w-e-are-almost-always-in-one-place-with-our-minds-somewhere-quite/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
