Life Quote by Nawal El Saadawi
““How many were the years of my life that went by before my body, and my self became really mine, to do with them as I wished? How many were the years of my life that were lost before I tore my body and my self away from the people who held me in their grasp since the very first day?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Women at Point Zero, 1975
Self‑realization requires breaking free from oppressive relationships that define identity.
In simple terms: Find yourself by leaving controlling influences.
Key Takeaway
Seek autonomy and reclaim personal agency.
Themes
freedom
identity
empowerment
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- cultural expectations
- mental health
- career choices
Key Concepts
psychology
social oppression
Questions to Reflect On
- What ties keep you from true self?
- How can you safely detach from them?
A Different Perspective
Leaving may cause loss and uncertainty.
![“[O]ur own bodies are changing every second. Yet we take the body to be our Self; and, speaking in terms of it, we say, “I am hungry” or “I am lame”; “I am black” or “I am white.” These are all just the conditions of the body. We touch the truth when we say, “My body aches,” implying the body…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4d6/anonymous-1_ache_o-ur-own-bodies-are-changing-every-secon_244174.jpg)
![“When He [God] talks of their losing their selves, He means only abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that, He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/396/anonymous-1_boast_when-he-god-talks-of-their-losing-their_468519.jpg)
![“Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee to change the constitution [of Egypt]. We cannot be liberated as women in a society built on class oppression or gender oppression or religious oppression.” quote by Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a8/nawal-el-saadawi-4167_built_women-are-suffering-because-they-are-bei_408487.jpg)
