--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here and gone. That’s what it is to be…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg" --- # Here and gone. That’s what it is to be human, I think—to… ![“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…” quote by Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg) > “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.” [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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? 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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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Doty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-human-i-think-to-be-both/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-human-i-think-to-be-both/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/mark-doty-11557_attention_here-and-gone-that-s-what-it-is-to-be-hu_1643220.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Here and gone. 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