Attention Quote by Mark Doty
“Here and gone. That’s what it is to be human, I think—to be both someone and no one at once, to hold a particular identity in the world (our names, our place of origins, our family and affectional ties) and to feel that solid set of ties also capable of dissolution, slipping away, as we become moments of attention.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Here and Gone,” 2005
Human existence is a blend of identity and its possible loss, feeling both anchored and fleeting.
In simple terms: Being human means holding and possibly losing identity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the fluidity of self.
Themes
identity
impermanence
existence
self
reflection
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
poetic
existential
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- grief counseling
- creative writing
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What parts of your identity feel most changeable?
- How do you cope with the loss of familiar roles?
A Different Perspective
Identity can be both stable and transient.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
