--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I often need a limited space. It's like…" description: "\"I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to roam around in and reinvent and have things to happen in, kind of like a French farce. Doors ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/michael-ondaatje-940_arriving_i-often-need-a-limited-space-it-s-like-h_1898405.png" --- # I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to… ![“I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to roam around in and reinvent and have things to happen in, kind of like a French farce. Doors opening, doors closing, new people arriving, and disappearing, and so forth.” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/michael-ondaatje-940_arriving_i-often-need-a-limited-space-it-s-like-h_1898405.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/michael-ondaatje-940_arriving_i-often-need-a-limited-space-it-s-like-h_1898405.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fea/michael-ondaatje-940_arriving_i-often-need-a-limited-space-it-s-like-h_1898405.png) > “I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to roam around in and reinvent and have things to happen in, kind of like a French farce. Doors opening, doors closing, new people arriving, and disappearing, and so forth.” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work often thrives in confined, defined spaces that foster imagination and narrative development. **In simple terms:** Limited space sparks creativity. Key Takeaway Use constraints to inspire ideas. Themes creativity space structure Mood introspective optimistic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - writing retreats - studio apartments - theatre stages - design labs Key Concepts narrative design psychology of space Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a small space into a creative hub? - What boundaries help focus your work? A Different Perspective Too much restriction can stifle freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doors Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors-opening/) [Opening doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-doors/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [We actually do need a federal government, but we need a limited one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/we-actually-do-need-a-federal-government-but-we-need-a-limited-one/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [I do like my own space. I like to just block the noise out after a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whaite/i-do-like-my-own-space-i-like-to-just-block-the-noise-out-after-a/) [John Whaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whaite/) > [Masturbating in space, would be like living in a snow globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/masturbating-in-space-would-be-like-living-in-a-snow-globe/) Author Name > [I think going into space would be like going deep into the ocean, like 5,000 meters down. When you go down that far, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-think-going-into-space-would-be-like-going-deep-into-the-ocean-like/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [I don't really like living in a very small space, like a tour bus, even though I have an amazing tour bus, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blackbear/i-don-t-really-like-living-in-a-very-small-space-like-a-tour-bus-even/) [Blackbear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blackbear/) > [“You can't discuss the ocean with a well frog - he's limited by the space he lives in. You can't discuss ice with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/you-can-t-discuss-the-ocean-with-a-well-frog-he-s-limited-by-the/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [...the face has limited space. My mother used to say, if you fill your face with laughing, there will be no more room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/the-face-has-limited-space-my-mother-used-to-say-if-you-fill-your/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“We would do what we must. The world is big. Surely there is a space in it for one like you and one like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/we-would-do-what-we-must-the-world-is-big-surely-there-is-a-space-in/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“You know, Maneck, the human face has limited space. My mother used to say, if you fill your face with laughing, there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/you-know-maneck-the-human-face-has-limited-space-my-mother-used-to/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [“Space, like time, engenders forgetfulness; but it does so by setting us bodily free from our surroundings and giving us back our primitive, unattached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/space-like-time-engenders-forgetfulness-but-it-does-so-by-setting-us/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [The virtue of maps, they show what can be done with limited space, they foresee that everything can happen therein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-virtue-of-maps-they-show-what-can-be-done-with-limited-space-they/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“The human face has limited space. If you fill it with laughter there will be no room for crying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/the-human-face-has-limited-space-if-you-fill-it-with-laughter-there/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [You're working with such limited space, it's not really possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/you-re-working-with-such-limited-space-it-s-not-really-possible/) [Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/) > [You tell that bitch give me my space like a telescope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/you-tell-that-bitch-give-me-my-space-like-a-telescope/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [I like expansive stuff that has a lot of space in it, like some of the early Pink Floyd albums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/i-like-expansive-stuff-that-has-a-lot-of-space-in-it-like-some-of-the/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) ## More by Michael Ondaatje > [“In spite of this, our table's status on the Oronsay continued to be minimal, while those at the Captain's Table were constantly toasting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/in-spite-of-this-our-table-s-status-on-the-oronsay-continued-to-be/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/he-will-hear-the-rain-before-he-feels-it-a-clicking-on-the-dry-grass/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would lean over and smell the skin at the base of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/whenever-her-father-was-alone-with-a-dog-in-a-house-he-would-lean/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“...those who had risked everything at a riverbend on a left turn and so discovered a fortune.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/those-who-had-risked-everything-at-a-riverbend-on-a-left-turn-and-so/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“All over the world there must be people like us, Anna had said then, wounded in some way by falling in love - seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/all-over-the-world-there-must-be-people-like-us-anna-had-said-then/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [Her father had taught her about hands. About a dog's paws. Whenever her father was alone with a dog in a house he would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/her-father-had-taught-her-about-hands-about-a-dog-s-paws-whenever-her/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/what-is-interesting-and-important-happens-mostly-in-secret-in-places/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [There's more danger in the violence you don't face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-s-more-danger-in-the-violence-you-don-t-face/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/from-this-point-on-she-whispered-we-will-either-find-or-lose-our-souls/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“You know it is the most relaxed thing when you when you sit with a best friend and you know there is nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-know-it-is-the-most-relaxed-thing-when-you-when-you-sit-with-a/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“There was no control except the " mood of his power... and it is for this reason it is good you never heard him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/there-was-no-control-except-the-mood-of-his-power-and-it-is-for-this/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/you-re-getting-everyone-s-point-of-view-at-the-same-time-which-for-me/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [I see the poem or the novel ending with an open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-see-the-poem-or-the-novel-ending-with-an-open-door/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“The Time Around Scars: A girl whom I've not spoken to or shared coffee with for several years writes of an old scar. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/the-time-around-scars-a-girl-whom-i-ve-not-spoken-to-or-shared-coffee/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“- Daca ti-as incredinta viata mea, ai scapa-o pe jos. Nu-i asa?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/daca-ti-as-incredinta-viata-mea-ai-scapa-o-pe-jos-nu-i-asa/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) [Explore all 322 Michael Ondaatje quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## More Arriving quotes > [Don´t be unnecessarily burdened by the past. Go on closing the chapters that you have read; there is no need to go back again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/don-t-be-unnecessarily-burdened-by-the-past-go-on-closing-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [With all due respect to UPS - it's a fine company - nobody cares about logistics. They care about that package arriving at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/with-all-due-respect-to-ups-it-s-a-fine-company-nobody-cares-about/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [Please... tell me who you are and what you want. And if you think those are simple questions, keep in mind that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/please-tell-me-who-you-are-and-what-you-want-and-if-you-think-those/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [We see men who have accumulated great fortunes, but we often recognize only their triumph, overlooking the temporary defeats which they had to surmount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/we-see-men-who-have-accumulated-great-fortunes-but-we-often-recognize/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/the-time-will-come-when-with-elation-you-will-greet-yourself-arriving/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [He must have driven this way countless times, and yet he had no memory of the scenery. He must have been so caught up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-joyce/he-must-have-driven-this-way-countless-times-and-yet-he-had-no-memory/) [Rachel Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-joyce/) > [When people know the desired destination, they’re free to improvise, as needed, in arriving there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/when-people-know-the-desired-destination-they-re-free-to-improvise-as/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [It's not a question of arriving and putting in a whole new administration, but instead, arriving and "compacting" things as much as possible, reducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-s-not-a-question-of-arriving-and-putting-in-a-whole-new/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Upon arriving, meeting their teachers and signing up for classes, these students began to realize that their attendance at Delaware State University was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-n-castle/upon-arriving-meeting-their-teachers-and-signing-up-for-classes-these/) [Michael N. 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I would visualize myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-smith/there-are-days-when-i-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-gym-or-find-myself-not/) [Kim Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-smith/) > [I left Montana in Spring of 1866, for Utah, arriving at Salt Lake city during the summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calamity-jane/i-left-montana-in-spring-of-1866-for-utah-arriving-at-salt-lake-city/) [Calamity Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calamity-jane/) Browse all 262 Arriving quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I often need a limited space. It's like having a house to roam around in and reinvent and have things to happen in, kind of like a French farce. 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