--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Time was passing like a hand waving from…" description: "\"“Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on.”\" — Jonathan Safran Foer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/jonathan-safran-foer-136_fitness_time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from_2624538.png" --- # Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted… ![“Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on.” quote by Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/jonathan-safran-foer-136_fitness_time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from_2624538.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/jonathan-safran-foer-136_fitness_time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from_2624538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/jonathan-safran-foer-136_fitness_time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from_2624538.png) > ““Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on.”” [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire for missed opportunities feels like a fleeting gesture that passes beyond reach **In simple terms:** Missing chances feels like a wave you can’t catch Key Takeaway Accept missed chances, focus on present actions Themes longing missed opportunity time Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - travel plans - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - What does the “train” symbolize for you? - How can you turn longing into motivation? A Different Perspective Focusing on past opportunities can hinder present growth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Time passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-passing/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [Time was passing like a hand waving from a train that I wanted to be on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from-a-train-that-i-wanted-to-be/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on. I hope you never have to think about anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/time-was-passing-like-a-hand-waving-from-a-train-i-wanted-to-be-on-i/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“My train! This is the train Papa promised me!” He pulled a little red engine from the branches of the tree. “And it’s red.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamera-alexander/my-train-this-is-the-train-papa-promised-me-he-pulled-a-little-red/) [Tamera Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamera-alexander/) > [“Ash made a tentative hand-waving 'what he says may be true but please don’t think I have transformed into a violent lunatic' gesture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/ash-made-a-tentative-hand-waving-what-he-says-may-be-true-but-please/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“So can I ask…?” I waved my hands vaguely. I didn’t have the words. “How it does work?” She smirked. “As long as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/so-can-i-ask-i-waved-my-hands-vaguely-i-didn-t-have-the-words-how-it/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [That Awkward moment when you see someone wave and you wave when that person is not really waving at you...!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/that-awkward-moment-when-you-see-someone-wave-and-you-wave-when-that/) Author Name > [“Learn to recognize good luck when it's waving at you, hoping to get your attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-koslow/learn-to-recognize-good-luck-when-it-s-waving-at-you-hoping-to-get/) [Sally Koslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-koslow/) > [That akward moment when you realize that that person is not waving at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randlegraham/that-akward-moment-when-you-realize-that-that-person-is-not-waving-at/) Randlegraham > [“And then I saw him waving to us from behind the sky’s reflection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/and-then-i-saw-him-waving-to-us-from-behind-the-sky-s-reflection/) [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) > [“Two homes on either side of the road saw Two women waving a good bye to their men One was a newly married husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/two-homes-on-either-side-of-the-road-saw-two-women-waving-a-good-bye/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [“You're eyes," she said, waving her hand next to her own. 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