--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole big, complicated world was…" description: "\"“The whole big, complicated world was simple and graspable and easy to unlock. I would stay here for the rest of time in the ocean which was the univer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/neil-gaiman-29_complicated-world_the-whole-big-complicated-world-was-simp_2713810.jpg" --- # The whole big, complicated world was simple and graspable… ![“The whole big, complicated world was simple and graspable and easy to unlock. I would stay here for the rest of time in the ocean which was the universe which was the soul which was all that mattered. I would stay here forever.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/neil-gaiman-29_complicated-world_the-whole-big-complicated-world-was-simp_2713810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/neil-gaiman-29_complicated-world_the-whole-big-complicated-world-was-simp_2713810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c8/neil-gaiman-29_complicated-world_the-whole-big-complicated-world-was-simp_2713810.jpg) > ““The whole big, complicated world was simple and graspable and easy to unlock. I would stay here for the rest of time in the ocean which was the universe which was the soul which was all that mattered. I would stay here forever.”” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator longs for an eternal, simple existence within the ocean, seeing it as the ultimate truth and soul. **In simple terms:** Desire for timeless, simple existence. Key Takeaway Seek moments of profound simplicity. Themes spirituality existentialism longing Mood contemplative poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts eternity nature as metaphor inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What does “the ocean” symbolize for you? - Can you find simplicity in daily life? 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All men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-zai/in-everything-that-moves-through-the-universe-i-see-my-own-body-and/) [Zhang Zai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-zai/) > [“I think maybe Hell is a place. But you don't have to stay anywhere forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-think-maybe-hell-is-a-place-but-you-don-t-have-to-stay-anywhere/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You don't have to stay anywhere forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-don-t-have-to-stay-anywhere-forever/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The world is simple. It's miserable, solid all the way through. But if you could fool them, even for a second, then you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-is-simple-it-s-miserable-solid-all-the-way-through-but-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I often ask the question: Is it impossible to have a simple life? The world is not simple, Claire said. The world is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-brundage/i-often-ask-the-question-is-it-impossible-to-have-a-simple-life-the/) [Elizabeth Brundage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-brundage/) > [In an increasingly complex world, we have a simple and bold vision that all children should have the opportunity to grow up healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/in-an-increasingly-complex-world-we-have-a-simple-and-bold-vision/) [Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/) > [“The world is simple in a complex way." -Zack Merrick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zack-merrick/the-world-is-simple-in-a-complex-way-zack-merrick/) [Zack Merrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zack-merrick/) > [“The world is not simple. The world is not one place. It's the sum of an impossible number of incomprehensible things, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-milford/the-world-is-not-simple-the-world-is-not-one-place-it-s-the-sum-of-an/) [Kate Milford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-milford/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Complicated world quotes > [“I didn't normally talk this way: but sometimes you have to pretend to be an innocent child to learn something about the complicated world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-didn-t-normally-talk-this-way-but-sometimes-you-have-to-pretend-to/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [It's very important to understand that climate change is not just another issue in this complicated world of proliferating issues. Climate change is THE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/it-s-very-important-to-understand-that-climate-change-is-not-just/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) > [In the complicated world we live in, it's good to find simple sluoitons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jady/in-the-complicated-world-we-live-in-it-s-good-to-find-simple-sluoitons/) [Jady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jady/) > [“Chief Factors Limiting Access to Facts: 1)Artificial censorship 2)Limitations of social contact 3)Comparatively meager time in a day for paying attention to public affairs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/chief-factors-limiting-access-to-facts-1-artificial-censorship-2/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It's the age old thing: If you want to get elected, blame immigrants. It worked in the 20th century and it works now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/it-s-the-age-old-thing-if-you-want-to-get-elected-blame-immigrants-it/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [The 'Grace of Kings' begins as a very dark, complicated world filled with injustices - among them the oppressed position of women - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/the-grace-of-kings-begins-as-a-very-dark-complicated-world-filled/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [The only way that you can keep moving forward, finding other ways of expressing things about this increasingly complicated world that we live in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/the-only-way-that-you-can-keep-moving-forward-finding-other-ways-of/) [Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/) > [I’m aware that there is a bigger, far more complicated world out there than I’d ever realized, and just like the students at Beijing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/i-m-aware-that-there-is-a-bigger-far-more-complicated-world-out-there/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [The same image that I have of all the countries where I am supposed to go: it's far, it's different, it will be necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-thug/the-same-image-that-i-have-of-all-the-countries-where-i-am-supposed/) [Young Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-thug/) > [It is not always easy to be who we are, but as we grow up and mature and develop coping mechanisms that enable us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-boykin/it-is-not-always-easy-to-be-who-we-are-but-as-we-grow-up-and-mature/) [Keith Boykin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-boykin/) > [In the complicated world we live in, it's good to find simple soliutnos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruvell/in-the-complicated-world-we-live-in-it-s-good-to-find-simple-soliutnos/) [Ruvell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruvell/) > [“The cashier had long since left for home. By now she was probably bustling by an unmade bed that was waiting in her small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-schulz/the-cashier-had-long-since-left-for-home-by-now-she-was-probably/) [Bruno Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-schulz/) > [“We are the perfect Equation, complicated only by the world's Variables.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-salman-amir/we-are-the-perfect-equation-complicated-only-by-the-world-s-variables/) [Md Salman Amir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-salman-amir/) > [We are moving toward a global economy. One way of approaching that is to pull the covers over your head. 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