--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I…" description: "\"“Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. But now I do.”\" — Helen Dunmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/helen-dunmore-12115_believed_dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-sti_270140.png" --- # Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really… ![“Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. But now I do.” quote by Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/helen-dunmore-12115_believed_dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-sti_270140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/helen-dunmore-12115_believed_dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-sti_270140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97d/helen-dunmore-12115_believed_dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-sti_270140.png) > ““Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. But now I do.”” [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It reflects a journey from doubt to acceptance of a loved one's existence. **In simple terms:** From disbelief to belief about a dad's presence. Key Takeaway Embrace truth when it becomes clear. Themes belief acceptance family existence Mood introspective hopeful Type philosophical emotional When to use this quote - family loss - personal revelation - healing process Key Concepts psychology grief realization Questions to Reflect On - What does acceptance change in your life? - How do you cope with delayed realization? A Different Perspective May simplify complex emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-believed-2642486/) [Believed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) [Believed Conor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed-conor-2642485/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-alive-763361/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Really Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-know/) ## Related quotes > [I would like my Dad to be alive so he could see what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/i-would-like-my-dad-to-be-alive-so-he-could-see-what-i-am/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [“Although—given the idea that my dad is alive—going mad seems a better alternative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-mcgowan/although-given-the-idea-that-my-dad-is-alive-going-mad-seems-a-better/) [Maureen McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-mcgowan/) > [I'm told that as a child, when my dad was alive, I'd get up, put on my coat and go sit in the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-m-told-that-as-a-child-when-my-dad-was-alive-i-d-get-up-put-on-my/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I think to myself, How would things be for me if my dad was still alive? Would we get along? Would we argue? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-bonham/i-think-to-myself-how-would-things-be-for-me-if-my-dad-was-still/) [Jason Bonham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-bonham/) > [I spent many years not knowing where my dad was... Not knowing if my dad was alive, even. He turned up when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-butler/i-spent-many-years-not-knowing-where-my-dad-was-not-knowing-if-my-dad/) [Gerard Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-butler/) > [I so wish my dad was alive to see me do a Hindi film after acting in six Telugu movies. I sometimes imagine him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harshvardhan-rane/i-so-wish-my-dad-was-alive-to-see-me-do-a-hindi-film-after-acting-in/) [Harshvardhan Rane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harshvardhan-rane/) > [I always say that even though my dad was alive during Woodstock, he was just not invited. He just seemed like he was from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/i-always-say-that-even-though-my-dad-was-alive-during-woodstock-he/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [“Finally, he pushed back the chair and exhaled. "He's alive," I said. "Your dad's alive." He loooked up at me and, I couldn't help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/finally-he-pushed-back-the-chair-and-exhaled-he-s-alive-i-said-your/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [And now we can't," I said. "Which sucks, but the main thing is that your dad's alive." He smiled, hesitant at first, then a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/and-now-we-can-t-i-said-which-sucks-but-the-main-thing-is-that-your/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Do I miss him? Of course I do. Every day. His death was devastating, he was just 51. But you know, in my stand-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kay/do-i-miss-him-of-course-i-do-every-day-his-death-was-devastating-he/) [Peter Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kay/) > [“Only, his email is there. I check the date and time of his note. As of this morning, Dad was still alive in Afghanistan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-o-patterson/only-his-email-is-there-i-check-the-date-and-time-of-his-note-as-of/) [Valerie O. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-o-patterson/) > [“I don't really know who you are, but I'd appreciate it if I never found out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-walker/i-don-t-really-know-who-you-are-but-i-d-appreciate-it-if-i-never/) [Babe Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-walker/) > [You never really know someone until you have been their friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-best/you-never-really-know-someone-until-you-have-been-their-friend/) [Walker Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-best/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [If you only know something one way, then you don't really know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arndt/if-you-only-know-something-one-way-then-you-don-t-really-know-it/) [Michael Arndt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arndt/) ## More by Helen Dunmore > [Mourning Ruby is not a flat landscape: it is more like a box with pictures painted on every face. And each face is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/mourning-ruby-is-not-a-flat-landscape-it-is-more-like-a-box-with/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [To try to expunge an individual's history is a terrible violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/to-try-to-expunge-an-individual-s-history-is-a-terrible-violation/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/reread-rewrite-reread-rewrite-if-it-still-doesn-t-work-throw-it-away/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“The word 'personal' is one of my aversions. Personal loan. Personal hygiene. Personal safety. It's only a way of wrapping up bad news that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-word-personal-is-one-of-my-aversions-personal-loan-personal/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I can remember being in my pram: children stayed in their prams much longer then than they do now. A big bouncy pram with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-can-remember-being-in-my-pram-children-stayed-in-their-prams-much/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [A novel, in the end, is a container, a shape which you are trying to pour your story into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/a-novel-in-the-end-is-a-container-a-shape-which-you-are-trying-to/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“Fear of this order is not an emotion. It is like a virus overwhelming every cell of his body, while his mind struggles to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/fear-of-this-order-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-like-a-virus-overwhelming/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“Our houses are palaces to those who have none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/our-houses-are-palaces-to-those-who-have-none/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I could start with Mandelstam, who was a huge influence on my early writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-could-start-with-mandelstam-who-was-a-huge-influence-on-my-early/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [My first collection of poems was published by Bloodaxe Books, which was then a very new imprint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/my-first-collection-of-poems-was-published-by-bloodaxe-books-which/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“It seemed to me that there was a self-interest hidden in the core of all of us, which cooled us when we contemplated any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/it-seemed-to-me-that-there-was-a-self-interest-hidden-in-the-core-of/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [A problem with a piece of writing often clarifies itself if you go for a long walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/a-problem-with-a-piece-of-writing-often-clarifies-itself-if-you-go/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-after-day-i-think-heating/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I hope that readers will tear through my books because they can't stop themselves - and then, maybe, read them again and find new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-hope-that-readers-will-tear-through-my-books-because-they-can-t/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [If the garden of Eden really exists it does so moment by moment, fragmented and tough, cropping up like a fan of buddleia high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/if-the-garden-of-eden-really-exists-it-does-so-moment-by-moment/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) [Explore all 56 Helen Dunmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) ## More Believed quotes > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [“I didn't know if I believed in 'happily ever after' anymore. I mean, I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, let alone for forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kate-strohm/i-didn-t-know-if-i-believed-in-happily-ever-after-anymore-i-mean-i/) [Stephanie Kate Strohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kate-strohm/) > [Alfred Nobel believed that social changes are brought about slowly, and sometimes by indirect means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertha-von-suttner/alfred-nobel-believed-that-social-changes-are-brought-about-slowly/) [Bertha von Suttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertha-von-suttner/) > [Aaron Spelling always had his finger on the pulse of pop culture, he knew what the public wanted to see. He was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-milano/aaron-spelling-always-had-his-finger-on-the-pulse-of-pop-culture-he/) [Alyssa Milano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-milano/) > [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/) [Mishack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mishack/) > [“I wish I believed him. He's looking at me like he can see where I begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-mcnamara/i-wish-i-believed-him-he-s-looking-at-me-like-he-can-see-where-i-begin/) [Amy McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-mcnamara/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [On March 12, 2004, acting attorney general James B. Comey and the Justice Department's top leadership reached the brink of resignation over electronic surveillance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/on-march-12-2004-acting-attorney-general-james-b-comey-and-the/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I never believed I'd have a six-pack, especially not at 35 years old. I always thought it was a genetic blessing. It's not. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sullivan-stapleton/i-never-believed-i-d-have-a-six-pack-especially-not-at-35-years-old-i/) [Sullivan Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sullivan-stapleton/) > [“For a moment, I believed you.” He ordered me, dryly, recovering his usual poise again. He does not only have a selective hearing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-rogers/for-a-moment-i-believed-you-he-ordered-me-dryly-recovering-his-usual/) [Tionne Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-rogers/) > [There was a time when idealistic folksingers such as myself believed that Reality TV was a programming vogue that would peak and recede, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/there-was-a-time-when-idealistic-folksingers-such-as-myself-believed/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I felt uneasy, but sometimes, like I said before, I believed in Col. North and there was a very solid and very valid reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawn-hall/i-felt-uneasy-but-sometimes-like-i-said-before-i-believed-in-col/) [Fawn Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawn-hall/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) [Browse all 1,214 Believed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. 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