--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I must pay attention now, she thinks…" description: "\"“But I must pay attention now, she thinks, because what other choice is there? Maybe when I die my soul will fly to meet God, but when that time comes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gregory-maguire-547_hungry-eyes_but-i-must-pay-attention-now-she-thinks_1603034.png" --- # But I must pay attention now, she thinks, because what… ![“But I must pay attention now, she thinks, because what other choice is there? Maybe when I die my soul will fly to meet God, but when that time comes I won't have the use of clever hands, nor the burden of an ugly face; hands and face will be planted like bulbs in the soil, while only the bloom of…” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gregory-maguire-547_hungry-eyes_but-i-must-pay-attention-now-she-thinks_1603034.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gregory-maguire-547_hungry-eyes_but-i-must-pay-attention-now-she-thinks_1603034.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/gregory-maguire-547_hungry-eyes_but-i-must-pay-attention-now-she-thinks_1603034.png) > ““But I must pay attention now, she thinks, because what other choice is there? Maybe when I die my soul will fly to meet God, but when that time comes I won't have the use of clever hands, nor the burden of an ugly face; hands and face will be planted like bulbs in the soil, while only the bloom of the spirit emerges elsewhere. So let my hands and my face make their way in the world, let my hungry eyes see, my tongue taste.”” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing mortality, the soul seeks purpose beyond physical form; the spirit’s bloom persists after the body fades. **In simple terms:** Spirit lives on after body dies. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner growth beyond appearances. Themes mortality spirituality identity transcendence Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - end‑of‑life care - creative expression - mindfulness practice Key Concepts philosophy existentialism body‑spirit dualism legacy Questions to Reflect On - What does “bloom of the spirit” mean to you? - How can you nurture inner growth now? A Different Perspective Physical decline may limit agency, but inner purpose remains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hungry eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry-eyes/) ## Related quotes > [So let my hands and my face make their way in this world, let my hungry eyes see, my tongue taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/so-let-my-hands-and-my-face-make-their-way-in-this-world-let-my/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [We all deserve someone who thinks were the first choice, not just that were the best possible option or that there was no other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-all-deserve-someone-who-thinks-were-the-first-choice-not-just-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What has eyes that cannot see, a tongue that cannot taste, and a soul that cannot die?what is it?(A shoe)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/what-has-eyes-that-cannot-see-a-tongue-that-cannot-taste-and-a-soul/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Our language needs endless synonyms for beautiful; the eyes could see what the tongue cannot possibly describe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/our-language-needs-endless-synonyms-for-beautiful-the-eyes-could-see/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“May it please your Majesty I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lenthall/may-it-please-your-majesty-i-have-neither-eyes-to-see-nor-tongue-to/) William Lenthall > [“Men are born with two eyes but only one tongue in order that they should see twice as much as they say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/men-are-born-with-two-eyes-but-only-one-tongue-in-order-that-they/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Pull back the curtains Took alook into your eyes My tongue has now become A platform for your lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cage-the-elephant/pull-back-the-curtains-took-alook-into-your-eyes-my-tongue-has-now/) [Cage The Elephant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cage-the-elephant/) > [Why love the woman who is your wife? 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Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-watson/) ## More by Gregory Maguire > [“By so giving up, of course, it renews itself- that is the secret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/by-so-giving-up-of-course-it-renews-itself-that-is-the-secret/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. 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