---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are yawning gulfs into which large…"
description: "\"There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have fallen. I do not always know where I am at present.\" — Joseph Heller"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png"
---

#  There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have…

![“There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have fallen. I do not always know where I am at present.” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png)

> “There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have fallen. I do not always know where I am at present.”

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator feels lost, as if large parts of himself have drifted into unknown gaps, reflecting confusion about his present self.

**In simple terms:** He feels fragmented and uncertain of his current identity.

Key Takeaway

Seek self‑integration and present‑moment awareness.

Themes

identity confusion fragmentation self\_discovery existential

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- therapy
- meditation
- journaling
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

psychology self\_reflection disorientation existentialism narrative\_voice

Questions to Reflect On

- What parts of yourself feel missing?
- How can you reconnect with your present self?

A Different Perspective

Self‑fragmentation can hinder decision‑making and relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

> [If the artist does not fling himself, without reflecting, into his work, as Curtis flung himself into the yawning gulf, as the soldier flings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/if-the-artist-does-not-fling-himself-without-reflecting-into-his-work/)

[Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/)

> [But should we continue to linger amid a scene so featureless and wild, or venture adown some yawning opening into the abyss beneath, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-miller/but-should-we-continue-to-linger-amid-a-scene-so-featureless-and-wild/)

[Hugh Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-miller/)

> [The detective novel is the art-for-art's-sake of our yawning Philistinism, the classic example of a specialized form of art removed from contact with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-pritchett/the-detective-novel-is-the-art-for-art-s-sake-of-our-yawning/)

[V. S. Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-pritchett/)

> [Though my muscles may stiffen, though my skin may wrinkle, may I never find myself yawning at life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyohiko-kagawa/though-my-muscles-may-stiffen-though-my-skin-may-wrinkle-may-i-never/)

[Toyohiko Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyohiko-kagawa/)

> [“Yawning, Aden rubbed his eyes, blinked three more times, and yawned again. “Without breakfast? I never run away on an empty stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lewis-baillot/yawning-aden-rubbed-his-eyes-blinked-three-more-times-and-yawned/)

[Jack Lewis Baillot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lewis-baillot/)

> [What of it? If I die, I die. It will be no great loss to the world, and I am thoroughly bored with life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/what-of-it-if-i-die-i-die-it-will-be-no-great-loss-to-the-world-and-i/)

[Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/)

> [Subtly, in the little ways, joy has been leaking out of our lives. The small pleasures of the ordinary day seem almost contemptible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-holland/subtly-in-the-little-ways-joy-has-been-leaking-out-of-our-lives-the/)

[Barbara Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-holland/)

> [Wimbledon is the world's most boring tournament. There's hardly anything to do apart from tennis. You constantly find yourself yawning - there's no entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolay-davydenko/wimbledon-is-the-world-s-most-boring-tournament-there-s-hardly/)

[Nikolay Davydenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolay-davydenko/)

> [Because the only people for me are the mad ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/because-the-only-people-for-me-are-the-mad-ones/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Now small fowls flew screaming over the yet yawning gulf; a sullen white surf beat against its steep sides; then all collapsed; and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-small-fowls-flew-screaming-over-the-yet-yawning-gulf-a-sullen/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is no yawning gulf between man and God. Through his aspiration and meditation, Man can become conscious of his oneness with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/there-is-no-yawning-gulf-between-man-and-god-through-his-aspiration/)

[Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/)

> [No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-ever-told-me-that-grief-felt-so-like-fear-i-am-not-afraid-but/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Yawning Is your body's way of saying 20% battery remaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/yawning-is-your-body-s-way-of-saying-20-battery-remaining/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [I consider conversations with people to be mind exercises, but I don't want to pull a muscle, so I stretch a lot. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-consider-conversations-with-people-to-be-mind-exercises-but-i-don-t/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

## More by Joseph Heller

> [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

> [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/)

[Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

[Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/)

## More Chunks quotes

> [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/)

[Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/)

> [Spend unbroken chunks of time with the most important people in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/spend-unbroken-chunks-of-time-with-the-most-important-people-in-your/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I don't know necessarily that I would produce under my own company right now. Producing is not something that I'm thinking about. Directing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarlett-johansson/i-don-t-know-necessarily-that-i-would-produce-under-my-own-company/)

[Scarlett Johansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarlett-johansson/)

> [“I came, I saw, I blew chunks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-came-i-saw-i-blew-chunks/)

[Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/)

> [I went horseback riding and got a big chunk of horse manure kicked into my face. It has a way of slapping you right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-carlton/i-went-horseback-riding-and-got-a-big-chunk-of-horse-manure-kicked/)

[Vanessa Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-carlton/)

> [True. There is a beautiful Jesus. He is frozen to his bones like a chunk of beef. How desperately he wanted to pull his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/true-there-is-a-beautiful-jesus-he-is-frozen-to-his-bones-like-a/)

[Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/)

> [I know there's a lot of talk about self-publishing right now. Everyone's giddy with the possibilities. And I'll admit that it looks good on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-know-there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-self-publishing-right-now-everyone/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [Time isn't a commodity, something you pass around like cake. Time is the substance of life. When anyone asks you to give your time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette-bosco/time-isn-t-a-commodity-something-you-pass-around-like-cake-time-is/)

[Antoinette Bosco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette-bosco/)

> [Chunking makes our brains more efficient. The more you can chunk something, the faster and easier you can process it. Wayne Gretzky had chunked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/chunking-makes-our-brains-more-efficient-the-more-you-can-chunk/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [I stay away from big chunks of carbs and try to keep it lean, even when Im competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-stay-away-from-big-chunks-of-carbs-and-try-to-keep-it-lean-even/)

[Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/)

> [I take editing seriously. It's a joy to edit. I always hand a manuscript to several editors and can't wait to get back their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-take-editing-seriously-it-s-a-joy-to-edit-i-always-hand-a/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [Some of what we're learning suggests a balance between exposing children to new things, yet giving them a chance to repeatedly experience something they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/some-of-what-we-re-learning-suggests-a-balance-between-exposing/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [You have people saying two things that seem to contradict each other. One, that we live in a golden age of TV. The other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/you-have-people-saying-two-things-that-seem-to-contradict-each-other/)

[Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/)

> [Directing takes a lot longer than acting. This was about seven years in development, and then two and a half years with pre-production, production,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schwimmer/directing-takes-a-lot-longer-than-acting-this-was-about-seven-years/)

[David Schwimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schwimmer/)

> [I think that Donald Trump successfully mobilized a big chunk of America to vote for him and he's going to win. He has won.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-donald-trump-successfully-mobilized-a-big-chunk-of/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

Browse all 159 Chunks quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have fallen. I do not always know where I am at present.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Joseph Heller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large-chunks-of-me-have-fallen-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chunks"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large-chunks-of-me-have-fallen-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/534/joseph-heller-601_chunks_there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large_1858340.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are yawning gulfs into which large chunks of me have fallen. I do not always know where I am at present.” — Joseph Heller",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Joseph Heller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There are yawning gulfs into which...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large-chunks-of-me-have-fallen-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-are-yawning-gulfs-into-which-large-chunks-of-me-have-fallen-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
