--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We start out as little bits of…" description: "\"We start out as little bits of disconnected dust.\" — Naomi Shihab Nye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png" --- # We start out as little bits of disconnected dust. ![“We start out as little bits of disconnected dust.” quote by Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png) > “We start out as little bits of disconnected dust.” [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It metaphorically describes humans as tiny, separate particles that must eventually connect to form a larger whole. **In simple terms:** People start isolated and later connect. Key Takeaway Seek meaningful connections. Themes identity connection individuality unity Mood reflective hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - team building - community events - networking - family life Key Concepts Existentialism social psychology Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to bridge gaps with others? - How does feeling connected affect wellbeing? A Different Perspective Isolation can hinder personal development if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disconnected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disconnected/) [Disconnected Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disconnected-dust-654873/) [Dust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dust/) [Little Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bits-654875/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Start Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-little-509181/) ## Related quotes > [“Before they grow so big, the baobabs start out by being little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/before-they-grow-so-big-the-baobabs-start-out-by-being-little/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [“Start from as little as you can - You never know, this may be the difference of tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abed-rahmani/start-from-as-little-as-you-can-you-never-know-this-may-be-the/) [Abed Rahmani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abed-rahmani/) > [“—and start a little before the beginning, because we are usually wrong about where things begin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/and-start-a-little-before-the-beginning-because-we-are-usually-wrong/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [It's little I know what's in my heart,What's in my mind it's little I know,But there's that in me must up and start,And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/it-s-little-i-know-what-s-in-my-heart-what-s-in-my-mind-it-s-little-i/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [One who can move mountains start with the little stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/one-who-can-move-mountains-start-with-the-little-stones/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Little bits were one of Dorey Jewett's gems: small, sweet lobster knuckles that were sautéed in butter. There were no herbs involved, just enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-delinsky/little-bits-were-one-of-dorey-jewett-s-gems-small-sweet-lobster/) [Barbara Delinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-delinsky/) > [I take little bits and pieces of ideas that I may or may not believe in but I give them to this character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhonen-vasquez/i-take-little-bits-and-pieces-of-ideas-that-i-may-or-may-not-believe/) [Jhonen Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhonen-vasquez/) > [Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/do-your-little-bit-of-good-where-you-are-it-s-those-little-bits-of/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Well, I think that in every character there are little bits and pieces of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/well-i-think-that-in-every-character-there-are-little-bits-and-pieces/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [You try to take little bits from every manager and you try to mould it into your way of playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/you-try-to-take-little-bits-from-every-manager-and-you-try-to-mould/) [Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/) > [I slightly lost my enthusiasm for most acting, but I've done some little bits and pieces - curiosities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-slightly-lost-my-enthusiasm-for-most-acting-but-i-ve-done-some/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [There are a million people who can come up with little bits. The hard work is making those bits into something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lynne/there-are-a-million-people-who-can-come-up-with-little-bits-the-hard/) [Jeff Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lynne/) > [I would find myself, not necessarily always assigning these little bits of music for here or there, but all of a sudden something would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bolcom/i-would-find-myself-not-necessarily-always-assigning-these-little/) [William Bolcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bolcom/) > [When a task seems too daunting to even approach, break it up into little bits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-larson/when-a-task-seems-too-daunting-to-even-approach-break-it-up-into/) [Samantha Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-larson/) > [I'm just doing little bits and pieces for other magazines right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhonen-vasquez/i-m-just-doing-little-bits-and-pieces-for-other-magazines-right-now/) [Jhonen Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhonen-vasquez/) ## More by Naomi Shihab Nye > [“No test can measure anything important.   On”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/no-test-can-measure-anything-important-on/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“But I know we need to keep warm here on earth And when your shawl is as thin as mine is, you tell stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/but-i-know-we-need-to-keep-warm-here-on-earth-and-when-your-shawl-is/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I support all people on earth who have bodies like and unlike my body, skins and moles and old scars, secret and public hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-support-all-people-on-earth-who-have-bodies-like-and-unlike-my-body/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“We walked where the ancient pier juts into the sea. Stood on the rim of the pool, by the circle of black boulders. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-walked-where-the-ancient-pier-juts-into-the-sea-stood-on-the-rim/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“rounded shoulders, the shoulders of women no one has touched for a long time. Men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/rounded-shoulders-the-shoulders-of-women-no-one-has-touched-for-a/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I can never see fashion models, lean angular cheeks, strutting hips and blooming hair, without thinking of the skulls at the catacombs in Lima,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-can-never-see-fashion-models-lean-angular-cheeks-strutting-hips-and/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [I am looking for the human who admits his flaws Who shocks the adversary By being kinder not stronger What would that be like?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-am-looking-for-the-human-who-admits-his-flaws-who-shocks-the/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Remembering your mistakes more acutely than any minor success. This was the worst. The things that kept you up at night. Tip a waiter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/remembering-your-mistakes-more-acutely-than-any-minor-success-this/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Grief is an ambush. You’re walking along feeling fine, look down, see a leaf, and begin to weep. —Jack”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/grief-is-an-ambush-you-re-walking-along-feeling-fine-look-down-see-a/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [“Every day is a poetry day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/every-day-is-a-poetry-day/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [Teaching and writing are separate, but serve/feed one another in so many ways. Writing travels the road inward, teaching, the road out - helping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/teaching-and-writing-are-separate-but-serve-feed-one-another-in-so/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [What did exclusivity ever have to offer but a distorted, unrealistic view of the world? People who stuck only to their own kind were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/what-did-exclusivity-ever-have-to-offer-but-a-distorted-unrealistic/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [The thousands small birds of January in their smooth soaring cloud finding the trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/the-thousands-small-birds-of-january-in-their-smooth-soaring-cloud/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [When allowed to return to the class, your feelings of humility and lonesomeness will render you a much finer student and person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/when-allowed-to-return-to-the-class-your-feelings-of-humility-and/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [You know, those of us who leave our homes in the morning and expect to find them there when we go back - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/you-know-those-of-us-who-leave-our-homes-in-the-morning-and-expect-to/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) [Explore all 115 Naomi Shihab Nye quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) ## More Disconnected quotes > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [We are producing urban places which are disjointed and disconnected and not worthy of our civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-safdie/we-are-producing-urban-places-which-are-disjointed-and-disconnected/) [Moshe Safdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-safdie/) > [If we fail to appreciate the soul that Easternism gives us, then what we have is a disconnected, Greco-Roman, Western, egocentric, compartmentalized, reductionist, fragmented,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/if-we-fail-to-appreciate-the-soul-that-easternism-gives-us-then-what/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [As politics is disconnected from its ethical and material moorings, it becomes easier to punish and imprison young people than to educate them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/as-politics-is-disconnected-from-its-ethical-and-material-moorings-it/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Life is a biography, not a series of disconnected moments, more or less pleasurable but increasingly tedious and unsatisfying unless one imposes a purposive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/life-is-a-biography-not-a-series-of-disconnected-moments-more-or-less/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [My books have been translated into various languages and sold in other countries, but I never have any contact with the foreign publishers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/my-books-have-been-translated-into-various-languages-and-sold-in/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [This is because fear and love are enemies. They come from two opposing kingdoms. Fear comes from the devil, who would like nothing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-silk/this-is-because-fear-and-love-are-enemies-they-come-from-two-opposing/) [Danny Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-silk/) > [“Every few minutes or so I would remember the look from the man who had wanted fifty cents, and I'd look at that framed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/every-few-minutes-or-so-i-would-remember-the-look-from-the-man-who/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [The experience of life that you and I have is pretty much a jigsaw puzzle in the box: Day-to-day experiences of disconnected pieces that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/the-experience-of-life-that-you-and-i-have-is-pretty-much-a-jigsaw/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [You have to learn how to harness technology so you can use it for positive stuff without being disconnected from nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/you-have-to-learn-how-to-harness-technology-so-you-can-use-it-for/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“I was already at one remove before the Internet came along. I need another remove? Now I have to spend the time that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/i-was-already-at-one-remove-before-the-internet-came-along-i-need/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [We live in a paradox: connected electronically but disconnected interpersonally. However, when you recognize the problem, you can take steps to correct it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hallowell/we-live-in-a-paradox-connected-electronically-but-disconnected/) [Edward Hallowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hallowell/) > [If people are portrayed as monsters, we become disconnected from them, and to me that is not remotely interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/if-people-are-portrayed-as-monsters-we-become-disconnected-from-them/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [“We disconnected. And I wondered if we had ever truly connected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/we-disconnected-and-i-wondered-if-we-had-ever-truly-connected/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) [Browse all 213 Disconnected quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disconnected/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We start out as little bits of disconnected dust.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Naomi Shihab Nye" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnected-dust/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disconnected" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnected-dust/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63c/naomi-shihab-nye-4185_disconnected_we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnec_1651105.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We start out as little bits of disconnected dust.” — Naomi Shihab Nye", "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": "Naomi Shihab Nye", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We start out as little bits...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnected-dust/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/we-start-out-as-little-bits-of-disconnected-dust/#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 } } ] } ```