--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Latins are predisposed to thinking about…" description: "\"Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past. Catholicism has a lot to do with it because Catholicism is a contemplation of the past, of symbols t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg" --- # Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past… ![“Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past. Catholicism has a lot to do with it because Catholicism is a contemplation of the past, of symbols that are supposed to be eternally present.” quote by Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg) > “Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past. Catholicism has a lot to do with it because Catholicism is a contemplation of the past, of symbols that are supposed to be eternally present.” [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Latins tend to focus on history, and Catholicism reinforces this by emphasizing enduring symbols and past contemplation. **In simple terms:** Latins and Catholicism are oriented toward the past. Key Takeaway Acknowledge how cultural and religious narratives shape memory. Themes culture memory religion Mood contemplative nostalgic Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - religious festivals - personal reflection Key Concepts historical consciousness symbolic tradition Catholic doctrine Questions to Reflect On - How does this past focus affect daily life? - Can tradition coexist with modern change? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on the past can hinder forward‑looking growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Catholicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholicism/) [Catholicism Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholicism-contemplation-4323663/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Eternally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternally/) [Latins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latins/) [Latins Predisposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latins-predisposed-4323661/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Catholicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-catholicism-4323662/) [Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present/) [Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking about the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-about-the-past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Latins are tenderly enthusiastic. In Brazil they throw flowers at you. In Argentina they throw themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/latins-are-tenderly-enthusiastic-in-brazil-they-throw-flowers-at-you/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [We Latins are known for jabbering on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/we-latins-are-known-for-jabbering-on/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [Latins are into clowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/latins-are-into-clowns/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [I've dated interracially a lot. I grew up in Harlem, so I've dated Latins, Dominican, Guyanese, Cuban, black, white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mekhi-phifer/i-ve-dated-interracially-a-lot-i-grew-up-in-harlem-so-i-ve-dated/) [Mekhi Phifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mekhi-phifer/) > [“By being a citizen of Rome, a man gained honor, wealth, and security. The Latins, therefore, became eager to obtain this title, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/numa-denis-fustel-de-coulanges/by-being-a-citizen-of-rome-a-man-gained-honor-wealth-and-security-the/) [Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/numa-denis-fustel-de-coulanges/) > [I'm happy and I'm focused on my work... it's incredible to be able to work with 20th Century Fox and to keep opening doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiza-gonzalez/i-m-happy-and-i-m-focused-on-my-work-it-s-incredible-to-be-able-to/) [Eiza Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiza-gonzalez/) > [Latins for Republicans - it's like roaches for Raid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/latins-for-republicans-it-s-like-roaches-for-raid/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [As I look out there and see the culture of baseball, a lot of blacks and Latins, it's given me a lot of joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-williams/as-i-look-out-there-and-see-the-culture-of-baseball-a-lot-of-blacks/) [Billy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-williams/) > [We Latins make splendid lovers and splendid older men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-romero/we-latins-make-splendid-lovers-and-splendid-older-men/) [Cesar Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-romero/) > [If I were you, I'd put that away See, you're just wasted And thinking about the past again Darling you'll be okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-you-i-d-put-that-away-see-you-re-just-wasted-and-thinking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [~See you're just wasted & thinking about the past again, Darling you'll be okay~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sleeping-with-sirens/see-you-re-just-wasted-thinking-about-the-past-again-darling-you-ll/) [Sleeping With Sirens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sleeping-with-sirens/) > [“It seems like a long time, but what are nine years except for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and thinking about the past?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kristian-flores/it-seems-like-a-long-time-but-what-are-nine-years-except-for/) [Karl Kristian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kristian-flores/) > [Fear is when we're thinking about the past or thinking about the future, two things that do not exist. If we stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-mcnamara/fear-is-when-we-re-thinking-about-the-past-or-thinking-about-the/) [Garrett McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-mcnamara/) > [“How do we meditate? It is not thinking about the past or future. It starts with being present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/how-do-we-meditate-it-is-not-thinking-about-the-past-or-future-it/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [When I'm sitting at my computer writing, I really have this fiendish smile on my face. I am not thinking about the past or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/when-i-m-sitting-at-my-computer-writing-i-really-have-this-fiendish/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) ## More by Oscar Hijuelos > [“Glorious life ending. There must have been a moment when his son had gasped for air, the last time, as Jesus must. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/glorious-life-ending-there-must-have-been-a-moment-when-his-son-had/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [Music infuses your spirit with a certain energy that I try to convey in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/music-infuses-your-spirit-with-a-certain-energy-that-i-try-to-convey/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [People in their forties, fifties, and onward enjoy the whole world of books in a different way than the Internet-age kids do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/people-in-their-forties-fifties-and-onward-enjoy-the-whole-world-of/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [Nightclubs are the equivalent of a Catholic Church in a poor country. You hear a lot of stuff about churches filled with gold while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/nightclubs-are-the-equivalent-of-a-catholic-church-in-a-poor-country/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [“The house in which the fourteen sisters of Emilio Montez O'brien lived, radiated femininity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/the-house-in-which-the-fourteen-sisters-of-emilio-montez-o-brien/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [If you start believing all that press about you, you're in trouble. I don't even read my reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/if-you-start-believing-all-that-press-about-you-you-re-in-trouble-i/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [It's true that immigrant novels have to do with people going from one country to another, but there isn't a single novel that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/it-s-true-that-immigrant-novels-have-to-do-with-people-going-from-one/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [A lot of people consider my books to be straightforward, but I think that I write from atmosphere to atmosphere rather than from event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/a-lot-of-people-consider-my-books-to-be-straightforward-but-i-think/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [Oh yes!...The sweet summons of God to man. That's when He calls you up to His arms. And it's the most beautiful thing, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/oh-yes-the-sweet-summons-of-god-to-man-that-s-when-he-calls-you-up-to/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [“On his back, Robert must have had time to see something beautiful, and not just the ugliness of a city street at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/on-his-back-robert-must-have-had-time-to-see-something-beautiful-and/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [As a fiction writer you train yourself to think about situations subjectively. I don't really care for narratives that are just A, B, C,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/as-a-fiction-writer-you-train-yourself-to-think-about-situations/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [I grew up with the idealistic notion that writing and literature were noble causes. I had no inkling, no sense of what I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/i-grew-up-with-the-idealistic-notion-that-writing-and-literature-were/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [As a kid I had all kinds of questions about how I fit it with my neighborhood and friends and other Latinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/as-a-kid-i-had-all-kinds-of-questions-about-how-i-fit-it-with-my/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [When you write fiction, you can sort of invent more but also pack it with emotions that are very pertinent to you. Whereas with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/when-you-write-fiction-you-can-sort-of-invent-more-but-also-pack-it/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [I have never - I have never let go of my childhood contacts. My best friends from childhood are still my best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/i-have-never-i-have-never-let-go-of-my-childhood-contacts-my-best/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) [Explore all 23 Oscar Hijuelos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past. Catholicism has a lot to do with it because Catholicism is a contemplation of the past, of symbols that are supposed to be eternally present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Hijuelos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about-the-past-catholicism-has-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about-the-past-catholicism-has-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/847/oscar-hijuelos-24619_about_latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about_1308817.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Latins are predisposed to thinking about the past. Catholicism has a lot to do with it because Catholicism…” — Oscar Hijuelos", "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": "Oscar Hijuelos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Latins are predisposed to thinking about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about-the-past-catholicism-has-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/latins-are-predisposed-to-thinking-about-the-past-catholicism-has-a/#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 } } ] } ```