--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're not blank slates. What we've done…" description: "\"We're not blank slates. What we've done, what we've survived all go into us.\" — Nora Roberts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/nora-roberts-128_blank_we-re-not-blank-slates-what-we-ve-done-w_2507013.jpg" --- # We're not blank slates. What we've done, what we've… ![“We're not blank slates. What we've done, what we've survived all go into us.” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/nora-roberts-128_blank_we-re-not-blank-slates-what-we-ve-done-w_2507013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/nora-roberts-128_blank_we-re-not-blank-slates-what-we-ve-done-w_2507013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/nora-roberts-128_blank_we-re-not-blank-slates-what-we-ve-done-w_2507013.jpg) > “We're not blank slates. What we've done, what we've survived all go into us.” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our experiences and survival shape us, not a clean slate. **In simple terms:** Life experiences define us. Key Takeaway Embrace your past as part of your identity. Themes identity experience resilience Mood reflective thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - therapy - personal growth - storytelling - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How have past challenges shaped who you are? - What aspects of your history empower you? A Different Perspective Ignoring past trauma can hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blank slates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-slates/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Poem: Slates of Grey\] Sullen faces like slates of grey— What I’d seen on a walk today. Bodies rushing bodies bolting Time for life… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-c-scott/poem-slates-of-grey-sullen-faces-like-slates-of-grey-what-i-d-seen-on/) [Jess C Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-c-scott/) > [“people like to talk about clean slates. but the only truly clean slate is a new one. the rest are gray from whatever's been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jp-delaney/people-like-to-talk-about-clean-slates-but-the-only-truly-clean-slate/) Jp Delaney > [I'm surprised that I've survived my own dysfunction, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-m-surprised-that-i-ve-survived-my-own-dysfunction-really/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [I'm a legend because I've survived over a long period of time and still seem to be master of my fate - I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-m-a-legend-because-i-ve-survived-over-a-long-period-of-time-and/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [We've survived by believing our life is going to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/we-ve-survived-by-believing-our-life-is-going-to-get-better/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“Secrets are truths that show what we’ve been through—what we’ve survived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannika-dark/secrets-are-truths-that-show-what-we-ve-been-through-what-we-ve/) [Dannika Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannika-dark/) > [Every person you see has stories, and every person you see has a few that would break your heart. We deserve each other's respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/every-person-you-see-has-stories-and-every-person-you-see-has-a-few/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [I've survived quite a few generations. That's because I never lost my enthusiasm. I wake up every morning like on Christmas Day, waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/i-ve-survived-quite-a-few-generations-that-s-because-i-never-lost-my/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [“We've survived the Black Plague, the Titanic, and Pearl Harbor just to name a few. 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I hope to God I survive attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-ve-survived-inattention-i-hope-to-god-i-survive-attention/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Trust yourself. You've survived a lot, and you'll survive whatever is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-tew/trust-yourself-you-ve-survived-a-lot-and-you-ll-survive-whatever-is/) [Robert Tew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-tew/) > [I've survived a lot of managers, so I must have been doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/i-ve-survived-a-lot-of-managers-so-i-must-have-been-doing-something/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [I even move out onto the front porch and see my own limited view of the world. I want to take that world, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-even-move-out-onto-the-front-porch-and-see-my-own-limited-view-of/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. Of course, she didn't have the answer until she spoke to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/he-s-back-in-maine-now-she-did-say-he-badgered-her-with-questions-of/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Every professor worth his PhD should have a fireplace in his study.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/every-professor-worth-his-phd-should-have-a-fireplace-in-his-study/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Sorry, bad wing." When Theo kissed him, surprise and pleasure flustered him. He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. If it doesn't entertain you, it's not going to entertain anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-write-well-what-you-don-t-read-for-pleasure-if-it-doesn-t/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't edit a blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/you-can-t-edit-a-blank-page/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“There was a boy down at the stables." She laughed suddenly with her back comfortably nestled against Grant's chest. "Oh,Lord,he was a bit like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/there-was-a-boy-down-at-the-stables-she-laughed-suddenly-with-her/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Some people refuse to take the next step. You could refuse to take what you wanted most, because you're afraid someday you might lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/some-people-refuse-to-take-the-next-step-you-could-refuse-to-take/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Oh, i'm going to kick his ass, and when i'm done, i'm going to squeeze his balls blue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/oh-i-m-going-to-kick-his-ass-and-when-i-m-done-i-m-going-to-squeeze/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) [Explore all 1,138 Nora Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More Blank quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When I came back, they gave me blank looks. Some said, 'I don't think I've seen you for days.' Some not even that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-a-selimovi/when-i-came-back-they-gave-me-blank-looks-some-said-i-don-t-think-i/) [Meša Selimović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-a-selimovi/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) Emily Shanks > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If men's minds were like dominoes, surely his would be the double blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/if-men-s-minds-were-like-dominoes-surely-his-would-be-the-double-blank/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [“There isn’t any way to be. I will meet you where you’ve gone. The cards are blank; the cards are empty there. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-notley/there-isn-t-any-way-to-be-i-will-meet-you-where-you-ve-gone-the-cards/) [Alice Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-notley/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) Browse all 832 Blank quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're not blank slates. 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