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Drawn Quote by Megan Hart

“That life and this. This life. That life. The one beneath is drawn in solid lines and bold strokes; it is a picture drawn in permanence with ink. It’s a tattoo. Indelible. The one on top of it is sketched on vellum in soft brushes of charcoal, easily smudged. It covers the one beneath, but can’t…” quote by Megan Hart
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““That life and this. This life. That life. The one beneath is drawn in solid lines and bold strokes; it is a picture drawn in permanence with ink. It’s a tattoo. Indelible. The one on top of it is sketched on vellum in soft brushes of charcoal, easily smudged. It covers the one beneath, but can’t hide it. That life. This life. It looks as if you can have both. I mean, they’re both right there, one on top of the other, and it looks as if they’ll blend. But they never will. So, you take this thing. You take this thing you want, and you put it in a box and you close the lid. You can let your fingers trace the cracks, the places where the light gets in, the dark gets out, but the lid stays on. You don’t look inside. You don’t look at this thing you want so much, because you can. Not. Have. It. So there’s this box, you know, with the thing inside, and you could throw it away or bury it or shoot it into space; you could set it on fire and watch it burn to ashes, but really, none of that would make a difference, because you cannot destroy what you want. It only makes you want it more. So. You take this thing you want and you put it in a box and you close the lid. And you hold the box close to your heart, which is where it wants to go, and you pretend it doesn’t kill you every time you feel yourself breathe.””

Megan Hart

About This Quote

The quote contrasts permanent, unchangeable aspects of existence with fleeting, mutable desires, illustrating how longing for something unattainable intensifies its hold on us.

In simple terms: Permanent reality versus fleeting desire, and longing deepens attachment.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and accept the impermanence of cravings.

Themes

desire impermanence attachment identity control

Mood

melancholic introspective thoughtful

Type

philosophical poetic reflective

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • creative writing
  • therapy sessions
  • mindfulness practice
  • relationship counseling

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology attachment theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the “box” represent in your life?
  • How can you transform desire into motivation?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex emotional processes and ignore agency in change.

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