Children Quote by Lorrie Moore
““Sometimes as I’m drifting toward sleep, in the beginnings of that dissolution, I wonder where I am, when this is, and realize that at these moments I could be anywhere, anytime, for all I know: eight and napping in the trailer, my broken arm in a cast, or thirteen at night clutching a pillow to my neck, or twenty in the arms of my boyfriend, or twenty-seven in the arms of my husband, or thirty-three next to my imaginary daughter; at every place in the whole spinning shape that is my life, when I am falling asleep, I am the same person, the identical awareness, the same fuzzball of mind, the same muck of nerves, all along the line. I forage through my life and everywhere—there, there, and there—it is only me in it, the very same me, the same harmless lump, the same soggy weirdo, the same sleeping, breathing bun.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Life of the Mind” (1996)
The narrator reflects that, regardless of age or circumstance, the self remains constant through the act of falling asleep, highlighting continuity of identity.
In simple terms: Self stays the same across life’s moments.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the enduring core of self.
Themes
identity
continuity
sleep
self‑reflection
Mood
contemplative
intimate
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- nighttime meditation
- journaling
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literary introspection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this continuity mean for personal growth?
- How does sleep reveal inner consistency?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex identity changes over time.
