--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Space is something that you have to…" description: "\"Space is something that you have to define. Otherwise, it is like anxiety, which is too vague. A fear is something specific. I like claustrophobic spac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/louise-bourgeois-8996_anxiety_space-is-something-that-you-have-to-defi_1386655.jpg" --- # Space is something that you have to define. Otherwise, it… ![“Space is something that you have to define. Otherwise, it is like anxiety, which is too vague. A fear is something specific. I like claustrophobic spaces, because at least then you know your limits.” quote by Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/louise-bourgeois-8996_anxiety_space-is-something-that-you-have-to-defi_1386655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/louise-bourgeois-8996_anxiety_space-is-something-that-you-have-to-defi_1386655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe4/louise-bourgeois-8996_anxiety_space-is-something-that-you-have-to-defi_1386655.jpg) > “Space is something that you have to define. Otherwise, it is like anxiety, which is too vague. A fear is something specific. I like claustrophobic spaces, because at least then you know your limits.” [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Space must be defined; vague spaces cause anxiety, while defined, claustrophobic spaces set clear limits and reduce fear. **In simple terms:** Define space to manage anxiety. Key Takeaway Clarify boundaries to feel secure. Themes psychology space anxiety limits Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - design work - personal therapy - creative process Key Concepts existentialism boundary theory fear management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance openness and definition? - When does limitation become oppressive? A Different Perspective Over‑defining can stifle freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Vague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vague/) ## Related quotes > [The Internet has become a bunch of interlinked but linguistically distinct and culturally specific spaces. There's some interface between them, but there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/the-internet-has-become-a-bunch-of-interlinked-but-linguistically/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [I always think that the exceptional people are those who remain outsiders but still communicate on a grand scale. I think I want everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bat-for-lashes/i-always-think-that-the-exceptional-people-are-those-who-remain/) [Bat for Lashes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bat-for-lashes/) > [I've fixed the toilet. And I've been crawling in claustrophobic places... you have to deal with that when you become a homeowner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-pritzker/i-ve-fixed-the-toilet-and-i-ve-been-crawling-in-claustrophobic-places/) [J. B. Pritzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-pritzker/) > [New York is a nice place." "If you like concrete, crowds, and that claustrophobic, closed-in feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/new-york-is-a-nice-place-if-you-like-concrete-crowds-and-that/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [I have a fear of heights and I'm claustrophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-nayyar/i-have-a-fear-of-heights-and-i-m-claustrophobic/) [Kunal Nayyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-nayyar/) > [“Wanting to fall in love and being totally unable to trust, hungering for connection and always finding it claustrophobic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/wanting-to-fall-in-love-and-being-totally-unable-to-trust-hungering/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [I'm not claustrophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-grossman/i-m-not-claustrophobic/) [Leslie Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-grossman/) > [It's very claustrophobic to live a life which is not really how you wanted to live. 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We touch the dog or the pet at whim.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/the-kinds-of-roles-dogs-fill-can-be-hard-to-come-by-in-human/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Doing some of the 'Lord Of The Rings' press junkets got a bit claustrophobic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/doing-some-of-the-lord-of-the-rings-press-junkets-got-a-bit/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) ## More by Louise Bourgeois > [Artists have to be useful. They have to fill a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/artists-have-to-be-useful-they-have-to-fill-a-role/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [I am a searcher... I always was... and I still am... searching for the missing piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/i-am-a-searcher-i-always-was-and-i-still-am-searching-for-the-missing/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [My life has been regulated by insomnia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/my-life-has-been-regulated-by-insomnia/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [The colour blue - that is my colour - and the colour blue means you have left the drabness of day-to-day reality to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/the-colour-blue-that-is-my-colour-and-the-colour-blue-means-you-have/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [Artists are born not made. 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And I consider life a tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/surrealism-is-anathema-for-me-because-the-surrealists-made-a-joke-of/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [I am a lonely runner, but I am a long-distance runner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/i-am-a-lonely-runner-but-i-am-a-long-distance-runner/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [I work like a bee and feel that I accomplish little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/i-work-like-a-bee-and-feel-that-i-accomplish-little/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [“there are many realities”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/there-are-many-realities/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [Horizontality is a desire to give up, to sleep. Verticality is an attempt to escape. Hanging and floating are states of ambivalence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/horizontality-is-a-desire-to-give-up-to-sleep-verticality-is-an/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [Clothing is . . . an exercise in memory. It makes me explore the past: how did I feel when I wore that. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/clothing-is-an-exercise-in-memory-it-makes-me-explore-the-past-how/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [What modern art means is that you have to keep finding new ways to express yourself, to express the problems, that there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/what-modern-art-means-is-that-you-have-to-keep-finding-new-ways-to/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) [Explore all 76 Louise Bourgeois quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Space is something that you have to define. 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