--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I took them all away, and if ever there…" description: "\"“I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I needed distraction, this was it. In complete desolation, I looked at the world above. I watched t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/markus-zusak-165_desolation_i-took-them-all-away-and-if-ever-there-w_208587.png" --- # I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I… ![“I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I needed distraction, this was it. In complete desolation, I looked at the world above. I watched the sky as it turned from silver to gray to the color of rain. Even the clouds were trying to get away.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/markus-zusak-165_desolation_i-took-them-all-away-and-if-ever-there-w_208587.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/markus-zusak-165_desolation_i-took-them-all-away-and-if-ever-there-w_208587.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/markus-zusak-165_desolation_i-took-them-all-away-and-if-ever-there-w_208587.png) > ““I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I needed distraction, this was it. In complete desolation, I looked at the world above. I watched the sky as it turned from silver to gray to the color of rain. Even the clouds were trying to get away.”” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In moments of grief, the narrator seeks distraction in the sky, finding solace in observing nature’s changing colors. **In simple terms:** Grief leads to seeking escape in nature. Key Takeaway Allow yourself moments of observation to process loss. Themes grief escape nature observation solace Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - mental health - creative writing - therapy sessions Key Concepts emotional coping mindfulness environmental symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the sky symbolize for you in difficult times? - How can nature help you heal? A Different Perspective Distraction may only be temporary and avoid deeper processing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desolation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Emptiness and boredom: what a complete understatement. What I felt was complete desolation. Desolation, despair and boredom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/emptiness-and-boredom-what-a-complete-understatement-what-i-felt-was/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [You can't just plan a moment when things get back on track, just as you can't plan the moment you lose your way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-can-t-just-plan-a-moment-when-things-get-back-on-track-just-as-2/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I watched the sky a long time, concluding that such beauty was reserved for distant, dangerous places, and that nature has good reason for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-byrd/i-watched-the-sky-a-long-time-concluding-that-such-beauty-was/) Richard Byrd > [“Alone he watched the sky go out, dark deepen to its full. He kept his eyes on the engulfed horizon, for he knew from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/alone-he-watched-the-sky-go-out-dark-deepen-to-its-full-he-kept-his/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Above, the stars were unwinking, also constant. Suns and worlds by the million. Dizzying constellations, cold fire in every primary hue. As he watched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/above-the-stars-were-unwinking-also-constant-suns-and-worlds-by-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The two years I spent solely writing for other people kind of took me away from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lp/the-two-years-i-spent-solely-writing-for-other-people-kind-of-took-me/) LP > [“I was taking something away from her, although she didn't know it. I was filching. Never mind that it was something she apparently didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-was-taking-something-away-from-her-although-she-didn-t-know-it-i/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Those mistakes that keep haunting us are usually the ones that took away the people we love most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/those-mistakes-that-keep-haunting-us-are-usually-the-ones-that-took/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Antiques Roadshow' was the first job I had taken since my children were born that took me away from them consistently over a period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-bruce/antiques-roadshow-was-the-first-job-i-had-taken-since-my-children/) [Fiona Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-bruce/) > [They took away what should have been my eyes (but I remembered Milton's Paradise). They took away what should have been my ears, (Beethoven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/they-took-away-what-should-have-been-my-eyes-but-i-remembered-milton/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“In that moment, I realized that he always had that affect on me. 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And I took her away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/this-is-what-i-know-about-myself-she-was-all-i-wanted-and-i-took-her/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [“Like the clanging of the bell, the truth crashes in upon me. At last I understand. He took away my voice to save me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/like-the-clanging-of-the-bell-the-truth-crashes-in-upon-me-at-last-i/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Desolation quotes > [“A sense of desolation settled within me: a cold, slimy stone lodged under my lungs. There was nothing happy about the woods, I thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-davidson/a-sense-of-desolation-settled-within-me-a-cold-slimy-stone-lodged/) [Craig Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-davidson/) > [“ Desolation would not be the proper word to describe his feelings now; it was more the sense of emptiness he imagined he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shusaku-endo/desolation-would-not-be-the-proper-word-to-describe-his-feelings-now/) [Shusaku Endo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shusaku-endo/) > [“Then think of fire, It’s laughter, the music of splintering beams and glass, The flames reaching through the second story of a house almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-levis/then-think-of-fire-it-s-laughter-the-music-of-splintering-beams-and/) [Larry Levis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-levis/) > [They create a desolation and call it peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calgacus/they-create-a-desolation-and-call-it-peace/) Calgacus > [There are houses in certain provincial towns whose aspect inspires melancholy, akin to that called forth by sombre cloisters, dreary moorlands, or the desolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/there-are-houses-in-certain-provincial-towns-whose-aspect-inspires/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The Death of the contemporary forms of social order ought to gladden rather than trouble the soul. Yet what is frightening is that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/the-death-of-the-contemporary-forms-of-social-order-ought-to-gladden/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [The fountain of my heart dried up within me,-- With nought that loved me, and with nought to love, I stood upon the desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-robert-maturin/the-fountain-of-my-heart-dried-up-within-me-with-nought-that-loved-me/) [Charles Robert Maturin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-robert-maturin/) > [All consolation that does not come from God is but desolation; when the soul has learned to receive no comfort but in God only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/all-consolation-that-does-not-come-from-god-is-but-desolation-when/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [“I am back in my beloved city. The scene of desolation fills my eyes with tears. At every step my distress and agitation increases.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-am-back-in-my-beloved-city-the-scene-of-desolation-fills-my-eyes/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“The effect of this cannot be understood without being there. The beauty of it cannot be understood, either, and when you see beauty in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/the-effect-of-this-cannot-be-understood-without-being-there-the/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [Stand in despair anywhere old-growth forest has been clear-felled. All life has been replaced by blackened, poisoned desolation. Animals and birds have either fled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundall/stand-in-despair-anywhere-old-growth-forest-has-been-clear-felled-all/) [Peter Cundall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundall/) > [“Upon him I will visit famine and a fire, Till all around him desolation rings And all the demons in the outer dark Look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/upon-him-i-will-visit-famine-and-a-fire-till-all-around-him/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Glory falls around us as we sob a dirge of desolation on the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/glory-falls-around-us-as-we-sob-a-dirge-of-desolation-on-the-cross/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Poetry has always mattered, through human history, through all kinds of cultures, all kinds of violence and human desolation, as well as periods of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/poetry-has-always-mattered-through-human-history-through-all-kinds-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [It is a time when one’s spirit is subdued and sad, one knows not why; when the past seems a storm-swept desolation, life a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-a-time-when-one-s-spirit-is-subdued-and-sad-one-knows-not-why/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) [Browse all 198 Desolation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desolation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I took them all away, and if ever there was a time I needed distraction, this was it. 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