--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You'll know who you are when you start…" description: "\"“You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' Doris said.”\" — Marisa Silver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg" --- # You'll know who you are when you start losing things,'… ![“You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' Doris said.” quote by Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg) > ““You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' Doris said.”” [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When you start losing possessions, you recognize your true self and what truly matters. **In simple terms:** Losing things reveals your core identity. Key Takeaway Notice what you truly value. Themes self‑discovery loss identity Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decluttering - personal reflection - minimalism - grief processing Key Concepts materialism attachment priorities Questions to Reflect On - What does this loss teach you about yourself? - How can you honor what truly matters? A Different Perspective Loss can be painful and may trigger anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Losing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-things/) ## Related quotes > [“Doris said the only thing anybody can say in an amateur theatrical society when somebody cries. She said, “Why, no dear—you were marvelous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/doris-said-the-only-thing-anybody-can-say-in-an-amateur-theatrical/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“When Doris had died so long ago, it was weeks before Mary could think clearly and remember what she was supposed to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/when-doris-had-died-so-long-ago-it-was-weeks-before-mary-could-think/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“Have you ever met a man who looked so damn delicious that you wanted to sop him up with a hot buttermilk biscuit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-donovan/have-you-ever-met-a-man-who-looked-so-damn-delicious-that-you-wanted/) [Susan Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-donovan/) > [“And the newspapers, they say nothing about this at all or about the poor at all, Doris said. There are great holes in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-jiles/and-the-newspapers-they-say-nothing-about-this-at-all-or-about-the/) [Paulette Jiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-jiles/) > [ “\[when\]asked, “What should I do if I want to become a writer?” “Well,” Doris said, with that steely twinkle in her dark eyes, “My… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-betts/when-asked-what-should-i-do-if-i-want-to-become-a-writer-well-doris/) [Doris Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-betts/) > [I think as soon as you start believing you're doing something superior to other people, then you start losing the plot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howard/i-think-as-soon-as-you-start-believing-you-re-doing-something/) [Ben Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howard/) > [When you stop improving you start losing. Never stop striving to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-stop-improving-you-start-losing-never-stop-striving-to-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you start to think about what everybody thinks about you. You'll start losing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-start-to-think-about-what-everybody-thinks-about-you-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can go without texting her for a whole day...she'll start losing interest in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-can-go-without-texting-her-for-a-whole-day-she-ll-start-losing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Till the time you realize your conquest you already reach that stage when you start losing the grip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neel-preet/till-the-time-you-realize-your-conquest-you-already-reach-that-stage/) Neel Preet > [“When you decide to change your life for better and you start losing people and things around you, don't chase after it. it's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steffan-romany/when-you-decide-to-change-your-life-for-better-and-you-start-losing/) Steffan Romany > [After being disappointed so many times, you start losing hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/after-being-disappointed-so-many-times-you-start-losing-hope/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When u decide to change for life for the better and u start losing ppl and things around u ,dont chase after it ,its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hani/when-u-decide-to-change-for-life-for-the-better-and-u-start-losing/) [Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hani/) > [“If you start losing people used to be close to you, then you probably should reconsider yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindrella/if-you-start-losing-people-used-to-be-close-to-you-then-you-probably/) [Cindrella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindrella/) > [I start losing interest as soon as I see that you're not making the same efforts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-start-losing-interest-as-soon-as-i-see-that-you-re-not-making-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Marisa Silver > [Writing, for me, is always a dance between the critical part of my brain and the subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/writing-for-me-is-always-a-dance-between-the-critical-part-of-my/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“When Doris had died so long ago, it was weeks before Mary could think clearly and remember what she was supposed to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/when-doris-had-died-so-long-ago-it-was-weeks-before-mary-could-think/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I guess I'm drawn to stories of people whose physicality puts them on the outside of things in order to explore the ways in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-guess-i-m-drawn-to-stories-of-people-whose-physicality-puts-them-on/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“Such arrogance. A right of youth, he supposes, a necessity. How else is it possible to face the terrifying void of your unformed self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/such-arrogance-a-right-of-youth-he-supposes-a-necessity-how-else-is/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [But every age deserves its fashion and its forms, and no one can control what survives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/but-every-age-deserves-its-fashion-and-its-forms-and-no-one-can/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I'm interested in endurance. People persist in the face of the most excruciating hardships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-m-interested-in-endurance-people-persist-in-the-face-of-the-most/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [The story has to flow from an unstructured, felt place, but then I have to bring my analytical brain to bear on issues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/the-story-has-to-flow-from-an-unstructured-felt-place-but-then-i-have/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Things, very strange things, happen in folktales and there is never much attention given to the whys and wherefores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/things-very-strange-things-happen-in-folktales-and-there-is-never/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“What right did she have to take photographs of strangers? But she knew these faces…These people had been made to feel inadequate, abnormal. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/what-right-did-she-have-to-take-photographs-of-strangers-but-she-knew/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Why did people try to shush trouble away as if it were an unruly child?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/why-did-people-try-to-shush-trouble-away-as-if-it-were-an-unruly-child/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“A picture doesn't bring someone to life. A picture is a death of the moment when the picture is taken. Whenever you look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/a-picture-doesn-t-bring-someone-to-life-a-picture-is-a-death-of-the/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [I never know where I'm headed when I'm working on a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/i-never-know-where-i-m-headed-when-i-m-working-on-a-book/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“For the first time, her singularity, the fact that she felt different from every person she knew, made sense to her, and she realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/for-the-first-time-her-singularity-the-fact-that-she-felt-different/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [“But sometimes you can spend a lot of sorrow trying to change things for the better, when what was first was best. Its only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/but-sometimes-you-can-spend-a-lot-of-sorrow-trying-to-change-things/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) > [Because answers are inert things that stop inquiry. They make you think you have finished looking. But you are never finished. There are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/because-answers-are-inert-things-that-stop-inquiry-they-make-you/) [Marisa Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) [Explore all 27 Marisa Silver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/) ## More Losing things quotes > [“He’d wanted it to be about losing, about the things we’re born into loving and then lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/he-d-wanted-it-to-be-about-losing-about-the-things-we-re-born-into/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [If there's one thing I hate, it's losing. If there's two things I hate, it's losing and getting cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-s-one-thing-i-hate-it-s-losing-if-there-s-two-things-i-hate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I had what, I wanted, it was with me, in the room, including the room itself. Was it possible that we hear that voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-had-what-i-wanted-it-was-with-me-in-the-room-including-the-room/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [“She hated this place. Nothing made sense. Nothing worked as it was supposed to. She was supposed to be learning things as she went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-hated-this-place-nothing-made-sense-nothing-worked-as-it-was/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [When any part of the Station is moved from its designated location to do a repair, we really risk losing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunita-williams/when-any-part-of-the-station-is-moved-from-its-designated-location-to/) [Sunita Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunita-williams/) > [“who are always right, and are given to reminding us of it, are irritating; prophets are irritating, and Owen Meany is decidedly a prophet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/who-are-always-right-and-are-given-to-reminding-us-of-it-are/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [And I know you've spent a lifetime trying to protect me from the staggering pain of grief that comes from losing the things and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/and-i-know-you-ve-spent-a-lifetime-trying-to-protect-me-from-the/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [There were the classic challenges any tourist faces, like getting lost, getting sick, losing things, getting in a fight... All these things happened numerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pressman/there-were-the-classic-challenges-any-tourist-faces-like-getting-lost/) [Sam Pressman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pressman/) > [“It had not occured to me to mourn losing those things until now. I had done each of those things, somewhere along the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-center/it-had-not-occured-to-me-to-mourn-losing-those-things-until-now-i-had/) [Katherine Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-center/) > [Lost really has two disparate meanings. Losing things is about the familiar falling away, getting lost is about the unfamiliar appearing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/lost-really-has-two-disparate-meanings-losing-things-is-about-the/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“... but then boys are so strange with their toys. Especially those accustomed to losing things. They hold on more tightly than the rest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/but-then-boys-are-so-strange-with-their-toys-especially-those/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [“There is something about that burning of all those letters that gives me pause: why should everything be made clear and be brought into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/there-is-something-about-that-burning-of-all-those-letters-that-gives/) [Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/) > [Instead of things I'm good at, it might be faster to list the things I can't do. I can't cook or clean the house.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/instead-of-things-i-m-good-at-it-might-be-faster-to-list-the-things-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Like many men, I am highly skilled in the art of losing things but prefer to outsource the recovery process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/like-many-men-i-am-highly-skilled-in-the-art-of-losing-things-but/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [“Almost Home by Sugar Mae Cole Home isn’t always a place you picture in your mind With furniture and cookies and music playing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/almost-home-by-sugar-mae-cole-home-isn-t-always-a-place-you-picture/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) [Browse all 40 Losing things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' Doris said.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marisa Silver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-losing-things-doris-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Losing things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-losing-things-doris-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/marisa-silver-22366_losing-things_you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-l_2417012.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You'll know who you are when you start losing things,' Doris said.” — Marisa Silver", "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": "Marisa Silver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-silver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You'll know who you are when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-losing-things-doris-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-silver/you-ll-know-who-you-are-when-you-start-losing-things-doris-said/#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 } } ] } ```