---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a mystery we are to ourselves, even…"
description: "\"“What a mystery we are to ourselves, even as we go on, learning more, sorting it out a little. The further on we go, the more meaning there is but the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/528/gregory-maguire-547_contradictory_what-a-mystery-we-are-to-ourselves-even_1417743.png"
---

#  What a mystery we are to ourselves, even as we go on…

![“What a mystery we are to ourselves, even as we go on, learning more, sorting it out a little. The further on we go, the more meaning there is but the less articulable. You live your life, and the older you get – the more specificity you harvest – the more precious becomes every ounce and spam…” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/528/gregory-maguire-547_contradictory_what-a-mystery-we-are-to-ourselves-even_1417743.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/528/gregory-maguire-547_contradictory_what-a-mystery-we-are-to-ourselves-even_1417743.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/528/gregory-maguire-547_contradictory_what-a-mystery-we-are-to-ourselves-even_1417743.png)

> ““What a mystery we are to ourselves, even as we go on, learning more, sorting it out a little. The further on we go, the more meaning there is but the less articulable. You live your life, and the older you get – the more specificity you harvest – the more precious becomes every ounce and spam. Your life and times don’t drain of meaning because they become more contradictory, ornamented by paradox, inexplicable. Rather the opposite, maybe. The less explicable, the more meaning. The less a mathematics equation (a sum game); the more like music (significant secret).””

[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.

As we age, life becomes richer in paradox and mystery, making meaning deeper yet harder to express, resembling music more than a formula.

**In simple terms:** Life’s meaning grows with age, becoming more mysterious.

Key Takeaway

Embrace paradox and seek meaning beyond logic.

Themes

growth paradox meaning aging reflection

Mood

contemplative melancholic inspired

Type

philosophical reflective poetic

When to use this quote

- personal development
- creative work
- relationships
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

existentialism music metaphor complexity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you find meaning in contradictions?
- Can paradox be a source of comfort?

A Different Perspective

Meaning can feel elusive and may lead to frustration or over‑analysis.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Inexplicable Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexplicable-opposite-5012371/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-time/) [Live your life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-your-life/) [Maybe Explicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-explicable-5012372/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Paradox Inexplicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox-inexplicable-4048482/)

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