--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...but I suddenly realized what small…" description: "\"“...but I suddenly realized what small towns are. They are places where you grow up with the peculiar -- you live next to the strange and the unlikely ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/john-irving-337_small-towns_but-i-suddenly-realized-what-small-towns_2960670.jpg" --- # ...but I suddenly realized what small towns are. They are… ![“...but I suddenly realized what small towns are. They are places where you grow up with the peculiar -- you live next to the strange and the unlikely for so long that everything and everyone become commonplace. My cousins were both small-towners and outsiders; they had not grown up with Own Meany…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/john-irving-337_small-towns_but-i-suddenly-realized-what-small-towns_2960670.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/john-irving-337_small-towns_but-i-suddenly-realized-what-small-towns_2960670.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/john-irving-337_small-towns_but-i-suddenly-realized-what-small-towns_2960670.jpg) > ““...but I suddenly realized what small towns are. They are places where you grow up with the peculiar -- you live next to the strange and the unlikely for so long that everything and everyone become commonplace. My cousins were both small-towners and outsiders; they had not grown up with Own Meany, who was so strange to them that he inspired awe - yet they were no more likely to fall upon him, or to devise ways to torture him, than it was likely for a herd of cattle to attack a cat.”” [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small towns make the familiar seem strange, and strangers become ordinary over time, blurring the line between awe and indifference. **In simple terms:** Familiarity dulls novelty, making oddities seem normal. Key Takeaway Recognize when routine masks uniqueness. Themes community perception normalcy identity Mood reflective nostalgic Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - urban planning - cultural studies - personal relationships Key Concepts social dynamics psychology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How does familiarity affect judgment? - When do we overlook the extraordinary? A Different Perspective Even in small towns, outsider perspectives can reveal hidden complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commonplace Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplace-cousins-4507453/) [Cousins Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cousins-small-4507452/) [Small Towners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-towners-4507451/) [Small towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-towns/) [Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/town/) [Towners Outsiders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towners-outsiders-4507450/) ## Related quotes > [But instead of that stuff you get relationships with people and neighbors that you would never get in a city. People in small towns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-gorder/but-instead-of-that-stuff-you-get-relationships-with-people-and/) [Genevieve Gorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-gorder/) > [People in small towns, much more than in cities, share a destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/people-in-small-towns-much-more-than-in-cities-share-a-destiny/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) > [“I think small towns are the closest to heaven you can get on earth. I'm glad that some other people, my wonderful readers especially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-palmer/i-think-small-towns-are-the-closest-to-heaven-you-can-get-on-earth-i/) [Diana Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-palmer/) > [Everybody dies famous in a small town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/everybody-dies-famous-in-a-small-town/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [City and country -- each has its own beauty and its own pain. Some of the smallness of small towns -- cattiness, everybody knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/city-and-country-each-has-its-own-beauty-and-its-own-pain-some-of-the/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [There are so many people who don't know small towns exist. When I write, I want to give my readers two things: one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/there-are-so-many-people-who-don-t-know-small-towns-exist-when-i/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [When small towns find they cannot harm the strangest of their members, when eccentrics show resilience, they are eventually embraced and even cherished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/when-small-towns-find-they-cannot-harm-the-strangest-of-their-members/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [“The town wakes early, like it does every day; small towns need a head start if they’re going to have any chance in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/the-town-wakes-early-like-it-does-every-day-small-towns-need-a-head-2/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“Naodyma isn’t exactly a one-temple town, you know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ashling/naodyma-isn-t-exactly-a-one-temple-town-you-know/) [Andrew Ashling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ashling/) > [There is a comfortable feeling in small towns. It is salubrious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/there-is-a-comfortable-feeling-in-small-towns-it-is-salubrious/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [Small towns=small Minds..jus sayin!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/small-towns-small-minds-jus-sayin/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [“He had to accept the fate of every newcomer to a small town where there are plenty of tongues that gossip and few minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-had-to-accept-the-fate-of-every-newcomer-to-a-small-town-where/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I think in all small towns, all kind of working class communities around the world. They are kind of similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-baron-cohen/i-think-in-all-small-towns-all-kind-of-working-class-communities/) [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-baron-cohen/) > [Those who live in small towns definitely are the ones who have so much of apnapan, as compared to the cold-hearted people in metros…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/those-who-live-in-small-towns-definitely-are-the-ones-who-have-so/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [Even coming from small towns, the biggest dreams are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-labbe/even-coming-from-small-towns-the-biggest-dreams-are-possible/) [Stephanie Labbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-labbe/) ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" \[Owen Meany\] said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Explore all 641 John Irving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More Small towns quotes > [I enjoy going on motorcycle trips and stopping in small towns and enjoying drinks with the locals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-enjoy-going-on-motorcycle-trips-and-stopping-in-small-towns-and/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I was born in New York City. But my family moved when I was still an infant. Except for a year and half when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/i-was-born-in-new-york-city-but-my-family-moved-when-i-was-still-an/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [ I've seen it \[Australia\] go from a lot of small towns to big towns, but I think it has found its identity in all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-ve-seen-it-australia-go-from-a-lot-of-small-towns-to-big-towns-but/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [“Jesus. Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Phoenix, L.A., and Seattle, plus two small towns she'd never heard of in the Gulf Coast region. The unit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hooper/jesus-chicago-kansas-city-denver-phoenix-l-a-and-seattle-plus-two/) [Kay Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hooper/) > [The tyranny of public opinion (and what an opinion!) is as fatuous in the small towns of France as it is in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-tyranny-of-public-opinion-and-what-an-opinion-is-as-fatuous-in/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [I want people who live in small towns to know I hear them, I see them and I know what it's like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-kahan/i-want-people-who-live-in-small-towns-to-know-i-hear-them-i-see-them/) [Noah Kahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-kahan/) > [But instead of that stuff you get relationships with people and neighbors that you would never get in a city. People in small towns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-gorder/but-instead-of-that-stuff-you-get-relationships-with-people-and/) [Genevieve Gorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-gorder/) > [Small towns and local publications love to have a hero of some kind. For Portland, it's definitely Ian Karmel and Ron Funches, but every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-miller/small-towns-and-local-publications-love-to-have-a-hero-of-some-kind/) [Amy Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-miller/) > [Those who live in small towns definitely are the ones who have so much of apnapan, as compared to the cold-hearted people in metros…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/those-who-live-in-small-towns-definitely-are-the-ones-who-have-so/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [I did stories about unexpected encounters, back roads, small towns and ordinary folk, sometimes doing something a little extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/i-did-stories-about-unexpected-encounters-back-roads-small-towns-and/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [“The Republicans did not set out to establish a strong national state or to facilitate the industrial revolution. They believed strongly in the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-goldfield/the-republicans-did-not-set-out-to-establish-a-strong-national-state/) [David R. Goldfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-goldfield/) > [I suppose more than anything, it's the way of life in this part of the country that influences my writing. In Eastern North Carolina,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-suppose-more-than-anything-it-s-the-way-of-life-in-this-part-of-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I've been in small towns everywhere from the U.K. to Alabama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-the-drag-queen/i-ve-been-in-small-towns-everywhere-from-the-u-k-to-alabama/) [Bob the Drag Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-the-drag-queen/) > [To read the papers and to listen to the news... one would think the country is in terrible trouble. You do not get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kuralt/to-read-the-papers-and-to-listen-to-the-news-one-would-think-the/) [Charles Kuralt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kuralt/) > [Back home, I find small towns very peaceful. When my father and uncle were still in the film business, we had a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabhas/back-home-i-find-small-towns-very-peaceful-when-my-father-and-uncle/) [Prabhas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabhas/) [Browse all 180 Small towns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-towns/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...but I suddenly realized what small towns are. They are places where you grow up with the peculiar -- you live next to the strange and the unlikely for so long that everything and everyone become commonplace. 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