Body Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
“...he enclosed pieces of string that he used to measure out his body--his head, thigh, forearm, finger, neck, everything. He wanted me to sleep with them under my pillow. He said that when he came back, we would remeasure his body against the string as proof that he hadn't changed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer, 2005
A character uses a string to measure his body, hoping to prove his constancy despite change, reflecting on memory and identity.
In simple terms: He tries to keep himself unchanged by measuring his body with string.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that change is inevitable; embrace growth.
Themes
memory
identity
change
relationships
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- personal reflection
- relationship dynamics
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
symbolism
psychology
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you measure personal growth?
- Can symbols truly capture identity?
A Different Perspective
The method may give false certainty and ignore natural evolution.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
