--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not surprising to see in my own…" description: "\"It's not surprising to see in my own work, looking back, and in the work of some of my peers, an attention to family. It's nice to write a book that do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/jonathan-franzen-801_attention_it-s-not-surprising-to-see-in-my-own-wor_1525161.jpg" --- # It's not surprising to see in my own work, looking back… ![“It's not surprising to see in my own work, looking back, and in the work of some of my peers, an attention to family. It's nice to write a book that does tend toward significance and meaning, and where else are you sure of finding it?” quote by Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/jonathan-franzen-801_attention_it-s-not-surprising-to-see-in-my-own-wor_1525161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/jonathan-franzen-801_attention_it-s-not-surprising-to-see-in-my-own-wor_1525161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/jonathan-franzen-801_attention_it-s-not-surprising-to-see-in-my-own-wor_1525161.jpg) > “It's not surprising to see in my own work, looking back, and in the work of some of my peers, an attention to family. It's nice to write a book that does tend toward significance and meaning, and where else are you sure of finding it?” [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family ties often become a source of meaning and significance in one’s work and life. **In simple terms:** Family gives meaning. Key Takeaway Value relationships as sources of purpose. Themes family meaning purpose Mood reflective introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing memoirs - family gatherings - career decisions Key Concepts psychology social bonds creative inspiration Questions to Reflect On - How does family influence your creative output? - What other sources give your life meaning? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on family may overlook other meaningful pursuits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-back/) [Significance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significance/) ## Related quotes > [When they're looking at my work, they're looking at a painting and they're able to accept it better because it is also a quilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-ringgold/when-they-re-looking-at-my-work-they-re-looking-at-a-painting-and/) [Faith Ringgold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-ringgold/) > [My idea about collections is that you write as hard as you can for some period and what you're really doing during that time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/my-idea-about-collections-is-that-you-write-as-hard-as-you-can-for/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [You must love your work and not always be looking over the edge of it wanting your play to begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/you-must-love-your-work-and-not-always-be-looking-over-the-edge-of-it/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [A great many people have come up to me and asked how I manage to get so much work done and still keep looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/a-great-many-people-have-come-up-to-me-and-asked-how-i-manage-to-get/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Because I'm so hands on here at work and always looking at fabrics you have to be mobile and as comfortable as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narciso-rodriguez/because-i-m-so-hands-on-here-at-work-and-always-looking-at-fabrics/) [Narciso Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narciso-rodriguez/) > [As a struggling actor, you're not looking for parts that define you; you're just looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/as-a-struggling-actor-you-re-not-looking-for-parts-that-define-you/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [There are Universes begging for Gods, yet he hangs around this one looking for work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-jose-farmer/there-are-universes-begging-for-gods-yet-he-hangs-around-this-one/) [Philip Jose Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-jose-farmer/) > [I'm OK with being the Old Spice Guy because before I was the Old Spice Guy I was the guy looking for work on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-mustafa/i-m-ok-with-being-the-old-spice-guy-because-before-i-was-the-old/) [Isaiah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-mustafa/) > [“Looking for work sounds almost as bad as finding it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-black/looking-for-work-sounds-almost-as-bad-as-finding-it/) [Bob Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-black/) > [Nobody is looking for work who doesn't need work. 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