--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are some who believe that the mind…" description: "\"“There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/m-t-anderson-7453_forgetting_there-are-some-who-believe-that-the-mind_2190767.jpg" --- # There are some who believe that the mind is a blank… ![“There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I see rather that my own life hath been one long forgetting, the erasure of what was drawn, a terrible redaction; til all that remains is blank white…” quote by M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/m-t-anderson-7453_forgetting_there-are-some-who-believe-that-the-mind_2190767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/m-t-anderson-7453_forgetting_there-are-some-who-believe-that-the-mind_2190767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/m-t-anderson-7453_forgetting_there-are-some-who-believe-that-the-mind_2190767.jpg) > ““There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I see rather that my own life hath been one long forgetting, the erasure of what was drawn, a terrible redaction; til all that remains is blank white and comfortless. I know not what we have been; I know not what we are; but I know what we might be. And so I light out for the unknown regions.”” [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind is not a passive slate; life erases past impressions, leaving emptiness, yet hope remains for future potential. **In simple terms:** Our mind is shaped by experience, not blank. Key Takeaway Embrace the unknown to discover possibilities. Themes memory identity potential forgetting Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - philosophical reflection Key Concepts existentialism psychology selfhood Questions to Reflect On - What parts of your past do you let go? - How can emptiness become a canvas for new ideas? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate loss of memory, ignoring resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Erasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erasure/) [Forgetting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetting/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Those who go ahead provide a little light into the unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-densmore/those-who-go-ahead-provide-a-little-light-into-the-unknown/) [John Densmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-densmore/) > [“The door was now ajar, the light of an unknown future shining through its crack. But it would take more strength than I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/the-door-was-now-ajar-the-light-of-an-unknown-future-shining-through/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I swing at a golf ball right, my mind is blank and my body is loose as a goose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-snead/when-i-swing-at-a-golf-ball-right-my-mind-is-blank-and-my-body-is/) [Sam Snead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-snead/) > [The empty mind - the pure mind - is not a blank, zero-land, where you're not feeling or caring about anything. It's an effulgence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-sumedho/the-empty-mind-the-pure-mind-is-not-a-blank-zero-land-where-you-re/) [Ajahn Sumedho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-sumedho/) > [“I tried to make my mind go blank. La la la la la la la la. 'You can't keep that up forever,' Suki said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-alderson/i-tried-to-make-my-mind-go-blank-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-you-can-t/) [Sarah Alderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-alderson/) > [“It's only at first sight,when the mind's a blank slate,that you get the purest look. So I fold the flap back,and write: Tumbleweeds. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/it-s-only-at-first-sight-when-the-mind-s-a-blank-slate-that-you-get/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [But why do I notice everything? She thought. Why must I think? She did not want to think. She wanted to force her mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/but-why-do-i-notice-everything-she-thought-why-must-i-think-she-did/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Dear God, what is my purpose of life? What should I do to find it? Once I found it, will I become stronger? …Oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chica-umino/dear-god-what-is-my-purpose-of-life-what-should-i-do-to-find-it-once/) [Chica Umino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chica-umino/) > [Not even thinking about anything. My mind is a blank. We just want to enjoy the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/not-even-thinking-about-anything-my-mind-is-a-blank-we-just-want-to/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [The world is unforgiveing it knows no such thing as mercy, To a blind eye no happiness shall be found but with light shead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasty-nate/the-world-is-unforgiveing-it-knows-no-such-thing-as-mercy-to-a-blind/) Nasty Nate > [I think of a child's mind as a blank book. During the first years of his life, much will be written on the pages.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-think-of-a-child-s-mind-as-a-blank-book-during-the-first-years-of/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“Her mind had been a blank story for so many years, and, suddenly, all the pages were filled with lost memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-m-greenebaum/her-mind-had-been-a-blank-story-for-so-many-years-and-suddenly-all/) Rachel M. Greenebaum > [I was so brilliant in the past. Now my mind is a blank. It's so glorious to get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-woronov/i-was-so-brilliant-in-the-past-now-my-mind-is-a-blank-it-s-so/) [Mary Woronov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-woronov/) > [“Her mind was blank and her heart and body ruled. And those? They were his property.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/her-mind-was-blank-and-her-heart-and-body-ruled-and-those-they-were/) [Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/) > [One must go for a film with an open mind; a film best impacts you when your mind is a blank page to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-kashyap/one-must-go-for-a-film-with-an-open-mind-a-film-best-impacts-you-when/) [Anurag Kashyap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-kashyap/) ## More by M.T. Anderson > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“We were as strangers, in the moment-as intimate as strangers-for strangers know more of us, and can judge of us more without reproach than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/we-were-as-strangers-in-the-moment-as-intimate-as-strangers-for/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“I went to him & put my Hand upon his Shoulder. Said he to me, “God forgive me. Her Name — I never knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/i-went-to-him-put-my-hand-upon-his-shoulder-said-he-to-me-god-forgive/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Maybe these are our salad days." "Huh?" "You know. Happy." "What's happy about a salad?" She shrugged. "Ranch," she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/maybe-these-are-our-salad-days-huh-you-know-happy-what-s-happy-about/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“The British Army and Navy sang a rousing song called "Heart of Oak"; the rebels had writ one to counter it called "The Liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/the-british-army-and-navy-sang-a-rousing-song-called-heart-of-oak-the/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“We could sing to lift our spirits,’ one of them suggested. Believe me, you want me to end the chapter now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/we-could-sing-to-lift-our-spirits-one-of-them-suggested-believe-me/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Who do we seek, my spies? Again and again, I announce to the world: I. M. Realdom! I. M. Realdom! I. M. Realdom! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/who-do-we-seek-my-spies-again-and-again-i-announce-to-the-world-i-m/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“I run through the woods, at once applauding myself for my wit-" "Well deserved, sir. Well deserved." "And at the self instant, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/i-run-through-the-woods-at-once-applauding-myself-for-my-wit-well/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“You know who you should ask about this? My pal Ray, who works with me. He could tell you all about this." Lily's dad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/you-know-who-you-should-ask-about-this-my-pal-ray-who-works-with-me/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“ We enter a time of calamity. Blood on the tarmac. Fingers in the juicer. Towers of air frozen in the lunar wastes. Models…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/we-enter-a-time-of-calamity-blood-on-the-tarmac-fingers-in-the-juicer/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Each of us hides our own private Delaware lost in the gray jungle-tangle of our brains. No one else can know its depths and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/each-of-us-hides-our-own-private-delaware-lost-in-the-gray-jungle/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Altruism is the kind of pie best eaten with a lot of gravy and little inspection of the kind of kidney it's stuffed with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/altruism-is-the-kind-of-pie-best-eaten-with-a-lot-of-gravy-and-little/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“He was possessed of a belief that nothing existed, or to be more precise, that only when things were perceived could we be sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/he-was-possessed-of-a-belief-that-nothing-existed-or-to-be-more/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“I hope thou shalt never retreat beneath the ground. The sun is thy inheritance. The sky is thy birthright. Stay here, my boy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/i-hope-thou-shalt-never-retreat-beneath-the-ground-the-sun-is-thy/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“Almost nothing lives here anymore, except where we plant it? No. No, no, no. We don’t know any of that. We have tea parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/almost-nothing-lives-here-anymore-except-where-we-plant-it-no-no-no/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) [Explore all 90 M.T. Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) ## More Erasure quotes > [“At the kitchen table she examined the glass of ice. Each cube was rounded by room temperature, dissolving in its own remains, and belatedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/at-the-kitchen-table-she-examined-the-glass-of-ice-each-cube-was/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [“When you’re persistently deleted from history, media, and any other channel to access information – or that information is distorted – it’s far worse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-b-dallocchio/when-you-re-persistently-deleted-from-history-media-and-any-other/) [M.B. Dallocchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-b-dallocchio/) > [“Writing is not destined to leave traces, but to erase, by traces, all traces, to disappear in the fragmentary space of writing more definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-blanchot/writing-is-not-destined-to-leave-traces-but-to-erase-by-traces-all/) [Maurice Blanchot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-blanchot/) > [Was their love worth the erasure of the world and all its stories?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/was-their-love-worth-the-erasure-of-the-world-and-all-its-stories/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [Memory is this one attempt to not be erased by time. And I think that ties back to what I learned watching my grandmother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/memory-is-this-one-attempt-to-not-be-erased-by-time-and-i-think-that/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [When I have my students do erasures, I'm always amazed by the way their voice comes through, whether they're doing an erasure of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/when-i-have-my-students-do-erasures-i-m-always-amazed-by-the-way/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [Sometimes fear grips me that these fragile moments of life will fade away. It seems that I write against erasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assia-djebar/sometimes-fear-grips-me-that-these-fragile-moments-of-life-will-fade/) Assia Djebar > [I grew up as a step-kid, always a little outside, always trying hard to follow and fit in. But over time, I've come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-grew-up-as-a-step-kid-always-a-little-outside-always-trying-hard-to/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [The erasure itself became the action. It seemed to suggest a moment in terms of how sad or pessimistic you can feel in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-mehretu/the-erasure-itself-became-the-action-it-seemed-to-suggest-a-moment-in/) [Julie Mehretu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-mehretu/) > [For a long time, I've been interested in cultural memory and historical erasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/for-a-long-time-i-ve-been-interested-in-cultural-memory-and/) [Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/) > [That's what I mean by this sense of erasure. You're inside some event or spectacle and you know you're complicit in it, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-morris/that-s-what-i-mean-by-this-sense-of-erasure-you-re-inside-some-event/) [Sarah Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-morris/) > [I can't think of any better tribute to the Dozier School Boys than for their story, which is about their literal visceral erasure, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/i-can-t-think-of-any-better-tribute-to-the-dozier-school-boys-than/) [RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/) > [“In all of our lives, there are days that we wish we could see expunged from the record of our very existence. Perhaps we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/in-all-of-our-lives-there-are-days-that-we-wish-we-could-see-expunged-2/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Doomsday, when it came, wouldn't be a physical phenomenon; it would be an all-inclusive erasure of simulectronic circuits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-f-galouye/doomsday-when-it-came-wouldn-t-be-a-physical-phenomenon-it-would-be/) Daniel F. Galouye > [“Anything can be lost if you try hard enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-johnson/anything-can-be-lost-if-you-try-hard-enough/) Daisy Johnson [Browse all 34 Erasure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erasure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I see rather that my own life hath been one long forgetting, the erasure of what was drawn, a terrible redaction; til all that remains is blank white and comfortless. I know not what we have been; I know not what we are; but I know what we might be. And so I light out for the unknown regions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.T. 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