--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I mean to say is, we had been…" description: "\"“What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been loved. Not lonely, not lost, not freakish, but wise, each in his or her own way. Our departu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/george-saunders-317_remembering_what-i-mean-to-say-is-we-had-been-consid_2707805.jpg" --- # What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been… ![“What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been loved. Not lonely, not lost, not freakish, but wise, each in his or her own way. Our departures caused pain. Those who had loved us sat upon their beds, heads in hand; lowered their faces to tabletops, making animal noises. We had been…” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/george-saunders-317_remembering_what-i-mean-to-say-is-we-had-been-consid_2707805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/george-saunders-317_remembering_what-i-mean-to-say-is-we-had-been-consid_2707805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/george-saunders-317_remembering_what-i-mean-to-say-is-we-had-been-consid_2707805.jpg) > ““What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been loved. Not lonely, not lost, not freakish, but wise, each in his or her own way. Our departures caused pain. Those who had loved us sat upon their beds, heads in hand; lowered their faces to tabletops, making animal noises. We had been loved, I say, and remembering us, even many years later, people would smile, briefly gladdened at the memory.”” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People feel deep love and loss, and in memory they bring brief joy, yet also sorrow. **In simple terms:** Love and loss linger, prompting bittersweet remembrance. Key Takeaway Cherish connections, accept grief’s complexity. Themes love loss memory humanity Mood nostalgic melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - funeral - anniversary - reunion - personal memoir Key Concepts existential reflection emotional depth Questions to Reflect On - What does remembering a loved one teach you? - How do you balance joy and grief? A Different Perspective Memories can both heal and reopen wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Considerable Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considerable-loved-2784847/) [Gladdened Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gladdened-memory-2784846/) [Pain Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-loved-1008720/) [Remembering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remembering/) [Say Remembering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-remembering-293344/) ## Related quotes > [“He is remembering," I say. "Remembering what?" "It's a word I use for praying. Sometimes it's like waiting for music to come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-x-stork/he-is-remembering-i-say-remembering-what-it-s-a-word-i-use-for/) [Francisco X. Stork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-x-stork/) > [“We're going to meet a lot of lonely people in the next week and the next month and the next year. 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That makes you regret what you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-lavelle/a-memory-that-costs-you-something-he-said-aloud-almost-to-himself-one/) [Daria Lavelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-lavelle/) > [“Put that thing down, girl. Don't you know it steals part of your soul, that little mechanical masterpiece you hold so frivolously? Don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-noelle-long/put-that-thing-down-girl-don-t-you-know-it-steals-part-of-your-soul/) [Shannon Noelle Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-noelle-long/) > [I just remember, all I'm doing is remembering when I was a kid I remember that they used to put out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-just-remember-all-i-m-doing-is-remembering-when-i-was-a-kid-i/) [George W. 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