--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I child, I came to this idea with a…" description: "\"As I child, I came to this idea with a horrified fascination. Once upon a time, I wasn’t here. Before that, my parents weren’t here. And before that…\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-burnside-8167_children_as-i-child-i-came-to-this-idea-with-a-ho_2417880.jpg" --- # As I child, I came to this idea with a horrified… ![“As I child, I came to this idea with a horrified fascination. Once upon a time, I wasn’t here. Before that, my parents weren’t here. And before that…” quote by John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-burnside-8167_children_as-i-child-i-came-to-this-idea-with-a-ho_2417880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-burnside-8167_children_as-i-child-i-came-to-this-idea-with-a-ho_2417880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/john-burnside-8167_children_as-i-child-i-came-to-this-idea-with-a-ho_2417880.jpg) > “As I child, I came to this idea with a horrified fascination. Once upon a time, I wasn’t here. Before that, my parents weren’t here. And before that…” [John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnside/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s fascination with existence reveals the unsettling realization of being a fleeting part of a long lineage. **In simple terms:** Childhood awe of existence. Key Takeaway Embrace the mystery of origins. Themes existence family history wonder Mood contemplative melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - family storytelling - historical research - mindfulness - education Key Concepts genealogy philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does your lineage mean to you? - How can awareness of ancestry shape identity? A Different Perspective The perspective may be too abstract for practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fascination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascination/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Once upon a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-upon-a-time/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It made me want to chase you through the hospital, drag you down screaming, and fuck you like a goddamn feral animal while they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-l-rotham/it-made-me-want-to-chase-you-through-the-hospital-drag-you-down/) Robin L. 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