---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am in Africa, I always have the…"
description: "\"When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's where everything started. When I am in New York, I know it is where everything ended up.\" — He..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png"
---

#  When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's…

![“When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's where everything started. When I am in New York, I know it is where everything ended up.” quote by Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png)

> “When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's where everything started. When I am in New York, I know it is where everything ended up.”

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Africa feels like beginnings; New York feels like endings.

**In simple terms:** Places symbolize life's cycles.

Key Takeaway

Recognize geographic emotional cues.

Themes

travel identity life cycle

Mood

contemplative poetic

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- creative inspiration
- relocation decisions

Key Concepts

cultural roots urban experience

Questions to Reflect On

- What does each place represent for you?
- How do environments shape your narrative?

A Different Perspective

May romanticize locations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africa Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-feeling-2727741/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-started-2727742/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/)

## Related quotes

> [“I suddenly felt all girly and giggly, which was a complete foreign feeling. If I started twirling my hair, I was going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sariah-wilson/i-suddenly-felt-all-girly-and-giggly-which-was-a-complete-foreign/)

[Sariah Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sariah-wilson/)

> [“Some feeling had started in my stomach and was traveling up to my face, and I knew that when it got there I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-stead/some-feeling-had-started-in-my-stomach-and-was-traveling-up-to-my/)

[Rebecca Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-stead/)

> [It's OK to know what's best for yourself. That was my biggest issue. I was looking to other people to tell me what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-costanza/it-s-ok-to-know-what-s-best-for-yourself-that-was-my-biggest-issue-i/)

[Chrissy Costanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-costanza/)

> [One ends up with a landscape one has never seen before but it is presumably the landscape you were feeling as you started the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-nolan/one-ends-up-with-a-landscape-one-has-never-seen-before-but-it-is/)

[Sidney Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-nolan/)

> [The history of apartheid-era South Africa is incredibly sad and at times infuriatingly incomprehensible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/the-history-of-apartheid-era-south-africa-is-incredibly-sad-and-at/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Growing up in this post-apartheid era, the first generation of teens in South Africa living in this new democracy, I often found myself feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adhir-kalyan/growing-up-in-this-post-apartheid-era-the-first-generation-of-teens/)

[Adhir Kalyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adhir-kalyan/)

> [Once you're back on your feet - if you ever make it back on your feet - that's the ultimate achievement. I remember I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/once-you-re-back-on-your-feet-if-you-ever-make-it-back-on-your-feet/)

[Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/)

> [New York is so serious about the creation of work. Everything is happening so fast, it feels like there's another studio, another session on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/new-york-is-so-serious-about-the-creation-of-work-everything-is/)

[Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/)

> [I didn't act in school. I didn't study acting, either. I learned everything when I got to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-dayal/i-didn-t-act-in-school-i-didn-t-study-acting-either-i-learned/)

[Manish Dayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-dayal/)

> [When I start getting embroiled in heated debates and feeling stressed, I just turn everything off and disconnect from the world. I simply tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-wadhwa/when-i-start-getting-embroiled-in-heated-debates-and-feeling-stressed/)

[Vivek Wadhwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-wadhwa/)

> [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

> [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/)

[Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/)

> [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/)

[Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/)

> [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

## More by Henry Rollins

> [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [In the summer of '84, you just couldn't escape the Born in the USA record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/in-the-summer-of-84-you-just-couldn-t-escape-the-born-in-the-usa/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [We spend millions of dollars to remove pain from our lives. It's why so many people get hooked on painkillers. The body becomes addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/we-spend-millions-of-dollars-to-remove-pain-from-our-lives-it-s-why/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Sleep is for squares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/sleep-is-for-squares/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-raised-in-washington-dc-very-violent-place-i-grew-up-with/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I feel pain everyday of my life. When you see me perform, it's that pain you're seeing coming out. I put all my emotions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-pain-everyday-of-my-life-when-you-see-me-perform-it-s-that/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Young, gay and stuck in Arkansas? Sounds like a horror flick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/young-gay-and-stuck-in-arkansas-sounds-like-a-horror-flick/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I was never told to "Get up, get out there, get a job." It was never a thing either parent ever said I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-was-never-told-to-get-up-get-out-there-get-a-job-it-was-never-a/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [There's no retirement, there's just a few years of non-work by the fire with someone bringing you some tea and relative peace and playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-no-retirement-there-s-just-a-few-years-of-non-work-by-the/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I love being a storyteller. I love telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-love-being-a-storyteller-i-love-telling-stories/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

[Explore all 1,006 Henry Rollins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

## More Africa quotes

> [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/)

[Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/)

> [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/)

[Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/)

> [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

> [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/)

[Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/)

> [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/)

[Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/)

> [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/)

[Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/)

> [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/)

[Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/)

> [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/)

[Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/)

> [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/)

[Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/)

> [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/)

[Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/)

[Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's where everything started. When I am in New York, I know it is where everything ended up.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henry Rollins"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-feeling-that-it-s-where/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Africa"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-feeling-that-it-s-where/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c4/henry-rollins-170_africa_when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-fe_1078889.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I am in Africa, I always have the feeling that it's where everything started. When I am in New York, I…” — Henry Rollins",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Henry Rollins",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I am in Africa, I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-feeling-that-it-s-where/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-i-am-in-africa-i-always-have-the-feeling-that-it-s-where/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
