--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This did not in any way alter her…" description: "\"“This did not in any way alter her intention of accomplishing her mission; on the contrary; it seemed to her all the more desperately important now tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/jane-bowles-27310_astonishment_this-did-not-in-any-way-alter-her-intent_870281.jpg" --- # This did not in any way alter her intention of… ![“This did not in any way alter her intention of accomplishing her mission; on the contrary; it seemed to her all the more desperately important now that she was almost certain, in her innermost heart, that her trip was a failure. Her attitude was not an astonishing one, since like many others she…” quote by Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/jane-bowles-27310_astonishment_this-did-not-in-any-way-alter-her-intent_870281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/jane-bowles-27310_astonishment_this-did-not-in-any-way-alter-her-intent_870281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/807/jane-bowles-27310_astonishment_this-did-not-in-any-way-alter-her-intent_870281.jpg) > ““This did not in any way alter her intention of accomplishing her mission; on the contrary; it seemed to her all the more desperately important now that she was almost certain, in her innermost heart, that her trip was a failure. Her attitude was not an astonishing one, since like many others she conceived of her life as separate from herself; the road was laid out always a little ahead of her by scared hands, and she walked down it without a question. This road, which was her life, would go on existing after her death, even as her death existed while she still lived.”” [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes a character whose resolve deepens despite perceived failure, viewing life as a predetermined path that persists beyond death. **In simple terms:** She stays determined even when she thinks she’s failed, seeing life as a road set ahead of her. Key Takeaway Embrace purpose despite setbacks. Themes determination existentialism resilience Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - career disappointment - creative block - life planning Key Concepts selfhood fatalism identity purpose Questions to Reflect On - Do you see your life as predetermined or self‑directed? - How do failures reshape your purpose? A Different Perspective Her view may ignore agency, assuming fate dictates outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astonishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) ## Related quotes > [Ah, who will save me from existing? It's neither death nor life that I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/ah-who-will-save-me-from-existing-it-s-neither-death-nor-life-that-i/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“In just a week, he'd taught her so much. That good, honorable men like him stayed the same after death. That she'd existed for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/in-just-a-week-he-d-taught-her-so-much-that-good-honorable-men-like/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [Failure is an attitude, not an outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/failure-is-an-attitude-not-an-outcome/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [You will never know what hurts, if you don't get a setback, you will never learn if you don't make a mistake, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/you-will-never-know-what-hurts-if-you-don-t-get-a-setback-you-will/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Many times the difference between your accomplishment and your failure is your attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-the-difference-between-your-accomplishment-and-your/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [U already died the day you wear born,when u decided to pic up that pen write that suicide note.you only existed not lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valentine-chikoma/u-already-died-the-day-you-wear-born-when-u-decided-to-pic-up-that/) Valentine Chikoma > [“If Erik existed and lived life in despair, We wish him to know we are here and we care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/if-erik-existed-and-lived-life-in-despair-we-wish-him-to-know-we-are/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [“Women had always existed: they had lived, a species to themselves, with the demons. But they had wanted playmates: and together they had made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/women-had-always-existed-they-had-lived-a-species-to-themselves-with/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [“What the rust do you matter? Who cares about you? Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? Once, you did have people who cared about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/what-the-rust-do-you-matter-who-cares-about-you-well-that-s-the-thing/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“Witness each moment in astounded jubilation. Take every holy breath in gratitude. Rejoice in life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witness-each-moment-in-astounded-jubilation-take-every-holy-breath-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-aren-t-constantly-astonished-at-god-s-grace-in-your-solitude/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) ## More by Jane Bowles > [“True enough,” said Mrs. Copperfield, bringing her fist down on the table and looking very mean. “I have gone to pieces, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/true-enough-said-mrs-copperfield-bringing-her-fist-down-on-the-table/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [Sisterly love is one of the few boons in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/sisterly-love-is-one-of-the-few-boons-in-this-life/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [“I am so wily and feminine that I could live by your side for a lifetime and deceive you afresh each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/i-am-so-wily-and-feminine-that-i-could-live-by-your-side-for-a/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [The farther a man follows the rainbow, the harder it is for him to get back to the life which he left starving like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/the-farther-a-man-follows-the-rainbow-the-harder-it-is-for-him-to-get/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [Sometimes when a man gets older he has a revelation and wants awfully bad to get back to the place where he left his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/sometimes-when-a-man-gets-older-he-has-a-revelation-and-wants-awfully/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [Victory fades so quickly that it is scarcely apparent and it is always the face of defeat that we are able to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/victory-fades-so-quickly-that-it-is-scarcely-apparent-and-it-is/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [“But do you know," said Andy, "how beautiful and delicate a man's heart is when he is happy for the first time? It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/but-do-you-know-said-andy-how-beautiful-and-delicate-a-man-s-heart-is/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [the face of victory often resembles the face of defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/the-face-of-victory-often-resembles-the-face-of-defeat/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [Houses! I hate houses. I like public places. Houses break your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/houses-i-hate-houses-i-like-public-places-houses-break-your-heart/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [“I am a writer and I want to write.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/i-am-a-writer-and-i-want-to-write/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [I fear nomads. I am afraid of them and afraid for them too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/i-fear-nomads-i-am-afraid-of-them-and-afraid-for-them-too/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [“What makes me happy I seem to catch out of the sky with both hands; I only hold whatever it is that I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/what-makes-me-happy-i-seem-to-catch-out-of-the-sky-with-both-hands-i/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [I don't judge people by their bodies. Even when I was a young girl I liked men for their minds. Now that I'm middle-aged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/i-don-t-judge-people-by-their-bodies-even-when-i-was-a-young-girl-i/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [I think that anything you feel strange or nervous about, you weren't cut out to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/i-think-that-anything-you-feel-strange-or-nervous-about-you-weren-t/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) > [It may be true that the government that governs best governs least Unfortunately, the same is also true of the government that governs worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-bowles/it-may-be-true-that-the-government-that-governs-best-governs-least/) [Jane Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) [Explore all 20 Jane Bowles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-bowles/) ## More Astonishment quotes > [“A writer lives, at least, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sansom/a-writer-lives-at-least-in-a-state-of-astonishment-beneath-any/) [William Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sansom/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A lot of what I am looking for is a moment of astonishment, he says. Those moments of pure consciousness when you involuntarily inhale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-meyerowitz/a-lot-of-what-i-am-looking-for-is-a-moment-of-astonishment-he-says/) [Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-meyerowitz/) > [If there be a skeptical star I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-macneile-dixon/if-there-be-a-skeptical-star-i-was-born-under-it-yet-i-have-lived-all/) [William Macneile Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-macneile-dixon/) > [If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-aren-t-constantly-astonished-at-god-s-grace-in-your-solitude/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Witness each moment in astounded jubilation. Take every holy breath in gratitude. Rejoice in life!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witness-each-moment-in-astounded-jubilation-take-every-holy-breath-in/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Those who have past much of their lives in this great city, look upon its opulence and its multitudes, its extent and variety, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/those-who-have-past-much-of-their-lives-in-this-great-city-look-upon/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“See? Nothing to it." "I see all right," Carly said, her tone full of awe. She gaped at him. "What?" "Um..." "Jesus, Carly, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-bryan/see-nothing-to-it-i-see-all-right-carly-said-her-tone-full-of-awe-she/) [Lissa Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-bryan/) > [For a moment Clary thought she might fall; she felt as if something essential had been torn away from her, an arm or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/for-a-moment-clary-thought-she-might-fall-she-felt-as-if-something/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Both of you’ll just have to believe me. Emma’s one of those women who was born with… The thing is, the minute a heterosexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/both-of-you-ll-just-have-to-believe-me-emma-s-one-of-those-women-who/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“For the analyst it is a source of never-ending astonishment how comparatively well a person can function with the core of himself not participating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/for-the-analyst-it-is-a-source-of-never-ending-astonishment-how/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [It was only when I lay there on the rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-only-when-i-lay-there-on-the-rotting-prison-straw-that-i/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Sometimes, people trying to commit suicide manage it in a manner that leaves them breathless with astonishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/sometimes-people-trying-to-commit-suicide-manage-it-in-a-manner-that/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [When I wake up, I wake to something worse. It’s the astonishment of being myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-wake-up-i-wake-to-something-worse-it-s-the-astonishment-of/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Browse all 227 Astonishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This did not in any way alter her intention of accomplishing her mission; on the contrary; it seemed to her all the more desperately important now that she was almost certain, in her innermost heart, that her trip was a failure. Her attitude was not an astonishing one, since like many others she conceived of her life as separate from herself; the road was laid out always a little ahead of her by scared hands, and she walked down it without a question. 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