--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have read somewhere that we often spend…" description: "\"I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.\" — Mary Balogh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png" --- # I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime… ![“I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.” quote by Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png) > “I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.” [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often search externally for what we already possess internally. **In simple terms:** People look outside for what they already have inside. Key Takeaway Recognize inner resources. Themes self‑discovery contentment inner wealth search for meaning Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - spiritual practice - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What inner qualities do you already hold? - How can you align external goals with inner strengths? A Different Perspective May ignore external opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Lifetime Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime-searching-3525522/) [Read Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-spend-1438021/) [Search](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/search/) [Searching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/searching/) [Spend Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-lifetime-292955/) ## Related quotes > [“She reads, and I read her. And that's how I spend the next few weeks. Each day, she speaks a few more words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mclean/she-reads-and-i-read-her-and-that-s-how-i-spend-the-next-few-weeks/) [Jay McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mclean/) > [Spend a lifetime in hard work with a humble mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/spend-a-lifetime-in-hard-work-with-a-humble-mind/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [If you suddenly go striving for different things from what have stood you in good stead over a period of time then you're searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-bairstow/if-you-suddenly-go-striving-for-different-things-from-what-have-stood/) [Jonny Bairstow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-bairstow/) > [Sometimes you've got to stop searching in order to realize what's right in front of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-scott/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-stop-searching-in-order-to-realize-what-s/) [Travis Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-scott/) > [I was searching for myself in order to find YOU -Syed Sharukh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syed-sharukh/i-was-searching-for-myself-in-order-to-find-you-syed-sharukh/) [Syed Sharukh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syed-sharukh/) > [“Searching is just like finding, only it comes first and is spelled differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-searcher/searching-is-just-like-finding-only-it-comes-first-and-is-spelled/) [The Searcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-searcher/) > [“We keep searching for things all our life, yet seldom do we notice them!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-keep-searching-for-things-all-our-life-yet-seldom-do-we-notice-them/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [Look for it, even if you dont know its there, because you might find something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-decamp/look-for-it-even-if-you-dont-know-its-there-because-you-might-find/) [Aaron DeCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-decamp/) > [“If you want to find wilier race by common sense, then you have just narrowed your searching area.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/if-you-want-to-find-wilier-race-by-common-sense-then-you-have-just/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [I'm always looking to make something that didn't exist before, fumbling about in the dark, not just while making a collection. The search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/i-m-always-looking-to-make-something-that-didn-t-exist-before/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [“What you seek you shall find unless you stop searching for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-zernoff/what-you-seek-you-shall-find-unless-you-stop-searching-for-it/) [Raphael Zernoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-zernoff/) > [I have found that searching for insight is more often than not a path to total darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mcmahon/i-have-found-that-searching-for-insight-is-more-often-than-not-a-path/) [Andrew McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mcmahon/) > [The writing life is one long, never-ending search for narrative. Well, it's not even a conscious searching. It happens even while you're busy buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/the-writing-life-is-one-long-never-ending-search-for-narrative-well/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [“Like radars, restless and searching.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-newman/like-radars-restless-and-searching/) [Liz Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-newman/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More by Mary Balogh > [“Why is it," she asked, snuggling closer, "that I so often imagine myself running away and running free?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/why-is-it-she-asked-snuggling-closer-that-i-so-often-imagine-myself/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Ah, but dreams cannot be captured with promises," he said. "Like water, they elude our grasp. But water is the staff of life. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/ah-but-dreams-cannot-be-captured-with-promises-he-said-like-water/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her. She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/what-sort-of-man-could-you-love-for-a-lifetime-he-asked-her-she-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Even at its darkest moment, life was a precious gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/even-at-its-darkest-moment-life-was-a-precious-gift/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Sometimes children do not realize by how fragile a thread their security hangs. Perhaps it is as well they do not - most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/sometimes-children-do-not-realize-by-how-fragile-a-thread-their/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Would she be able to bear never seeing him again? Never in this life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/would-she-be-able-to-bear-never-seeing-him-again-never-in-this-life/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Sometimes love was to be grasped in any form and in any manner it was offered. And sometimes love must be given in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/sometimes-love-was-to-be-grasped-in-any-form-and-in-any-manner-it-was/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“When we last out at ourselves for having lost control, we are reminded that we never can be in total control, that all life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/when-we-last-out-at-ourselves-for-having-lost-control-we-are-reminded/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“Love does not deck the beloved in chains. It just is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/love-does-not-deck-the-beloved-in-chains-it-just-is/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“This is your home,’ he said. ‘You are mistress of Finchley Park, Vanessa. You may do whatever you wish.’ Her smile broadened. ‘Within reason,’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/this-is-your-home-he-said-you-are-mistress-of-finchley-park-vanessa/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“She bit her lower lip hard and blinked her eyes. There was such wistfulness and longing in his voice. Oh, she was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/she-bit-her-lower-lip-hard-and-blinked-her-eyes-there-was-such/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“following spring to find himself a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/following-spring-to-find-himself-a/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“But that is what life is all about, he said. "It is about dreaming and making those dreams come true with effort and determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/but-that-is-what-life-is-all-about-he-said-it-is-about-dreaming-and/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [“One could not change the past anyway. Why let it blight the present and the future?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/one-could-not-change-the-past-anyway-why-let-it-blight-the-present/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I prefer to believe the opposite - that there is always an indestructible beauty at the heart of darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-prefer-to-believe-the-opposite-that-there-is-always-an/) [Mary Balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) [Explore all 298 Mary Balogh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) ## More Lifetime quotes > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [The number of ways you can live in one lifetime is limitless. So why limit yourself? The sky is not the limit. Beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-number-of-ways-you-can-live-in-one-lifetime-is-limitless-so-why/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [With all the technology we're inventing and what they're coming up with scientifically, people are having longer lifetimes. It's scary, but in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-murphy/with-all-the-technology-we-re-inventing-and-what-they-re-coming-up/) [Brittany Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-murphy/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) [Simen Agdestein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simen-agdestein/) > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [“A life is about twenty-five thousand days, and a finding occurs about once every twenty-five thousand days. In other news, once in a lifetime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/a-life-is-about-twenty-five-thousand-days-and-a-finding-occurs-about/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [They say a man doesn't know himself until he faces death for the first time. . . I don't know about that. It seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/they-say-a-man-doesn-t-know-himself-until-he-faces-death-for-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [It is an interesting law of romance that a truly strong woman will choose a strong man who disagrees with her over a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-is-an-interesting-law-of-romance-that-a-truly-strong-woman-will/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In my lifetime I have broken every law that was ever made by both man and God", he said, "If either had made any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-panzram/in-my-lifetime-i-have-broken-every-law-that-was-ever-made-by-both-man/) [Carl Panzram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-panzram/) > [To invest successfully over a lifetime does not require a stratospheric IQ, unusual business insights, or inside information. What's needed is a sound intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/to-invest-successfully-over-a-lifetime-does-not-require-a/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) [Browse all 2,943 Lifetime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary Balogh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lifetime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c3/mary-balogh-914_lifetime_i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spen_2001707.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.” — Mary Balogh", "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": "Mary Balogh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have read somewhere that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/i-have-read-somewhere-that-we-often-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for/#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 } } ] } ```