--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to keep on with a house, day…" description: "\"“You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the silence, cooking a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/helen-dunmore-12115_house_you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-aft_689715.png" --- # You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think… ![“You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the silence, cooking and washing up, laundering and polishing. As soon as you stop, there may as well never have been any life at all. A house dies as quickly as a body.” quote by Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/helen-dunmore-12115_house_you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-aft_689715.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/helen-dunmore-12115_house_you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-aft_689715.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/helen-dunmore-12115_house_you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-aft_689715.png) > ““You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the silence, cooking and washing up, laundering and polishing. As soon as you stop, there may as well never have been any life at all. A house dies as quickly as a body.”” [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. Consistent daily care sustains a home and life; neglect leads to decay. **In simple terms:** Daily upkeep keeps life alive. Key Takeaway Maintain routine tasks. Themes home maintenance life routine Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - home ownership - daily chores - personal well‑being Key Concepts care presence vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What routine nurtures your sense of home? - How does neglect affect your wellbeing? A Different Perspective Neglect can cause emotional strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I am full of gratitude for my life - and for this house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-clary/i-am-full-of-gratitude-for-my-life-and-for-this-house/) [Julian Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-clary/) > [What kind of life can you have in a house without books?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/what-kind-of-life-can-you-have-in-a-house-without-books/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I want a man in my life, not in my house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/i-want-a-man-in-my-life-not-in-my-house/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [I don't want my life to be about a house and a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-drake/i-don-t-want-my-life-to-be-about-a-house-and-a-car/) [Larry Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-drake/) > [My mom is proud of me. I just want to keep working hard so one day I can help my family. I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mclemore/my-mom-is-proud-of-me-i-just-want-to-keep-working-hard-so-one-day-i/) [Ben McLemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mclemore/) > [I get scripts sent to my house every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/i-get-scripts-sent-to-my-house-every-day/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I could have been in a house show the day before being flown in to do the Survivor Series. I'd do that pay-per-view, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ultimate-warrior/i-could-have-been-in-a-house-show-the-day-before-being-flown-in-to-do/) [The Ultimate Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-ultimate-warrior/) > [“This is where you all live?" Asked John as they ascended the stairs. "It's small." "This is just our Thanksgiving house," Scott muttered. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rex/this-is-where-you-all-live-asked-john-as-they-ascended-the-stairs-it/) [Adam Rex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rex/) > [I like being busy. I couldn't sit around the house all day and do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-harrison/i-like-being-busy-i-couldn-t-sit-around-the-house-all-day-and-do/) [Corey Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-harrison/) > [“having people over at all house very day of the week.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-yardley/having-people-over-at-all-house-very-day-of-the-week/) Cathy Yardley > [...there is no doubt something will be done sooner or later to enable us to put on a house every day, just as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ettore-sottsass/there-is-no-doubt-something-will-be-done-sooner-or-later-to-enable-us/) [Ettore Sottsass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ettore-sottsass/) > [You should only do what you do - in my case, cooking - while you still love to do it. But if you lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-galetti/you-should-only-do-what-you-do-in-my-case-cooking-while-you-still/) [Monica Galetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-galetti/) > [We can't stop our life, But we can manage how we live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-can-t-stop-our-life-but-we-can-manage-how-we-live/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes, you have to stop your life or your career and say 'What is the best for my family, for me?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/sometimes-you-have-to-stop-your-life-or-your-career-and-say-what-is/) [Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/) > [Those who don't stop for life ending up living a blur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-veldman/those-who-don-t-stop-for-life-ending-up-living-a-blur/) [Renee Veldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-veldman/) ## 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/) > [“Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. But now I do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-still-didn-t-really-know-it-but/) [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/) > [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 House quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [I think of novels as houses. You live in them over the course of a long period, both as a reader and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-think-of-novels-as-houses-you-live-in-them-over-the-course-of-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) Browse all 14,318 House quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the silence, cooking and washing up, laundering and polishing. As soon as you stop, there may as well never have been any life at all. 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