--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so…" description: "\"When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so intensely aware of death. Eugene, my friend and partner, was dying here in the house when I did 'Bumble-ardy'. I did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/maurice-sendak-1273_death_when-i-did-bumble-ardy-i-was-so-intensel_3049927.jpg" --- # When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so intensely aware of… ![“When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so intensely aware of death. Eugene, my friend and partner, was dying here in the house when I did 'Bumble-ardy'. I did 'Bumble-ardy' to save myself. I did not want to die with him. I wanted to live, as any human being does.” quote by Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/maurice-sendak-1273_death_when-i-did-bumble-ardy-i-was-so-intensel_3049927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/maurice-sendak-1273_death_when-i-did-bumble-ardy-i-was-so-intensel_3049927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/maurice-sendak-1273_death_when-i-did-bumble-ardy-i-was-so-intensel_3049927.jpg) > “When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so intensely aware of death. Eugene, my friend and partner, was dying here in the house when I did 'Bumble-ardy'. I did 'Bumble-ardy' to save myself. I did not want to die with him. I wanted to live, as any human being does.” [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He was intensely aware of death while creating “Bumble‑ardy,” motivated by a desire to survive his dying friend. **In simple terms:** Creating art to confront mortality and affirm life. Key Takeaway Use art to process grief and affirm life. Themes mortality survival artistic expression Mood somber hopeful Type creative therapeutic When to use this quote - grief counseling - creative therapy - personal resilience Key Concepts existentialism psychology of loss Questions to Reflect On - How does artistic creation help cope with loss? - Can art replace other forms of mourning? A Different Perspective Art may not fully resolve trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) ## Related quotes > [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Bumble-Ardy looks like a happy book. That's the funniest thing about it. But this was survival. I was working very hard to survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/bumble-ardy-looks-like-a-happy-book-that-s-the-funniest-thing-about/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Bumble-Ardy is a very wicked little child as far as I'm concerned. He's not to be trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/bumble-ardy-is-a-very-wicked-little-child-as-far-as-i-m-concerned-he/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Thank God that Bumble-Ardy's parents are dead so we don't have to wonder what they did to him. We only know that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/thank-god-that-bumble-ardy-s-parents-are-dead-so-we-don-t-have-to/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [“I don't think you will ever be able to understand what it is like - the utter loneliness, the feeling of desperation - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-don-t-think-you-will-ever-be-able-to-understand-what-it-is-like-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I've been aware of death since I was a little girl. My only regret willl be not being able to write about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/i-ve-been-aware-of-death-since-i-was-a-little-girl-my-only-regret/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [It's not easy to live every moment wholly aware of death. It's like trying to stare the sun in the face: you can stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/it-s-not-easy-to-live-every-moment-wholly-aware-of-death-it-s-like/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [“I first became aware of death when my father held me up to see the view from the top of the Empire State Building.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissi-sepe/i-first-became-aware-of-death-when-my-father-held-me-up-to-see-the/) Chrissi Sepe > [So the first thing: become aware of death. Think about it, look at it, contemplate it. Do not be afraid, do not escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/so-the-first-thing-become-aware-of-death-think-about-it-look-at-it/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [As we grow old, we become aware that death is drawing near; his shadow falls across our path; the realities of life seem less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/as-we-grow-old-we-become-aware-that-death-is-drawing-near-his-shadow/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [I mean, it's hard to talk about death without realizing that's our end too, right? I am constantly aware of death. It's not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/i-mean-it-s-hard-to-talk-about-death-without-realizing-that-s-our-end/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) > [In the beginning, I was searching for myself in my music. My music was for me. I didn't have the mental room to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayumi-hamasaki/in-the-beginning-i-was-searching-for-myself-in-my-music-my-music-was/) [Ayumi Hamasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayumi-hamasaki/) > [“You should have been a jester instead of a knight. (Sin) True, but jesters don’t get to carry a sword. Personally, I like my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kinley-macgregor/you-should-have-been-a-jester-instead-of-a-knight-sin-true-but/) [Kinley MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kinley-macgregor/) > [“The only time I got into trouble was when I forged M's signature on the weekly report we had to take home every Friday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/the-only-time-i-got-into-trouble-was-when-i-forged-m-s-signature-on/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [“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 Maurice Sendak > [I never thought of Bumble-Ardy in that way. But I still have that same deep feeling for children who are in dire trouble. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-never-thought-of-bumble-ardy-in-that-way-but-i-still-have-that-same/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [The fan mail I get from kids are asking me questions which they do not ask their mothers and fathers. Because if they had,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-fan-mail-i-get-from-kids-are-asking-me-questions-which-they-do/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [“May I ask what you have in your black leather bag with gold buckles?" "Everything." They were climbing a narrow staircase. Rhoda stopped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/may-i-ask-what-you-have-in-your-black-leather-bag-with-gold-buckles/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I grew up in a house that was in a constant state of mourning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-grew-up-in-a-house-that-was-in-a-constant-state-of-mourning/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Illustrations have as much to say as the text. The trick is to say the same thing, but in a different way. It's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/illustrations-have-as-much-to-say-as-the-text-the-trick-is-to-say-the/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm a lucky buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-a-lucky-buck/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I've convinced myself - I hope I'm right - that children despair of you if you don't tell them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-ve-convinced-myself-i-hope-i-m-right-that-children-despair-of-you/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It's no fun being lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-s-no-fun-being-lonely/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [It dawned on me that art was the way I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-dawned-on-me-that-art-was-the-way-i-could-survive/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I cry a lot because I miss people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-cry-a-lot-because-i-miss-people/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [You cannot write for children They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/you-cannot-write-for-children-they-re-much-too-complicated-you-can/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [All I liked to do when I was a kid was draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/all-i-liked-to-do-when-i-was-a-kid-was-draw/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [I'm still as enamored and turned on by work as I was when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-m-still-as-enamored-and-turned-on-by-work-as-i-was-when-i-was-young/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) [Explore all 262 Maurice Sendak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I did 'Bumble-ardy,' I was so intensely aware of death. Eugene, my friend and partner, was dying here in the house when I did 'Bumble-ardy'. I did 'Bumble-ardy' to save myself. I did not want to die with him. 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