--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was nervous. It had been a long time…" description: "\"“I was nervous. It had been a long time since I’d gone any place I wanted to be.”\" — Ottessa Moshfegh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/ottessa-moshfegh-8200_long-time_i-was-nervous-it-had-been-a-long-time-si_551663.jpg" --- # I was nervous. It had been a long time since I’d gone any… ![“I was nervous. It had been a long time since I’d gone any place I wanted to be.” quote by Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/ottessa-moshfegh-8200_long-time_i-was-nervous-it-had-been-a-long-time-si_551663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/ottessa-moshfegh-8200_long-time_i-was-nervous-it-had-been-a-long-time-si_551663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a63/ottessa-moshfegh-8200_long-time_i-was-nervous-it-had-been-a-long-time-si_551663.jpg) > ““I was nervous. It had been a long time since I’d gone any place I wanted to be.”” [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels anxiety because it has been a long time since they visited a desired place, highlighting how familiarity can breed discomfort. **In simple terms:** Feeling nervous after a long absence from a wanted place. Key Takeaway Acknowledge the nerves and plan a gentle re‑entry. Themes anxiety longing re‑engagement Mood apprehensive reflective Type personal emotional When to use this quote - travel - personal milestones - new experiences - recovery Key Concepts psychology comfort zones anticipation Questions to Reflect On - What does this place represent for you? - How can you ease the transition back? A Different Perspective Nerves may stem from fear of the unknown, not just the place itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I stopped getting nervous a long time ago, so any time I do get nervous, which is rare - about work, anyway - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-stopped-getting-nervous-a-long-time-ago-so-any-time-i-do-get/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [“What if you like the elephant were gone to the place you were meant, after all, to be?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/what-if-you-like-the-elephant-were-gone-to-the-place-you-were-meant/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [I tell you, I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rockers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-ernie-ford/i-tell-you-i-was-as-nervous-as-a-long-tailed-cat-in-a-roomful-of/) [Tennessee Ernie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-ernie-ford/) > [I could have gone another place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/i-could-have-gone-another-place/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [“Time tick tock says the clock whirrling by never shy quietly pass layer upon grass until time has gone. than you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-dunn/time-tick-tock-says-the-clock-whirrling-by-never-shy-quietly-pass/) Kayla Dunn > [“Lost time is gone forever. Nobody ever catches up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-sylvester/lost-time-is-gone-forever-nobody-ever-catches-up/) [Natalia Sylvester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-sylvester/) > [“all is the same time has gone by some day you come some day you'll die someone has died long time ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/all-is-the-same-time-has-gone-by-some-day-you-come-some-day-you-ll/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“Whereas during those months of separation time had never gone quickly enough for their liking and they were wanting to speed its flight, now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/whereas-during-those-months-of-separation-time-had-never-gone-quickly/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The fact that a certain amount of time has gone by does not mean you should be feeling a certain way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameet-m-kumar/the-fact-that-a-certain-amount-of-time-has-gone-by-does-not-mean-you/) Sameet M. Kumar > [Time. I would have gone somewhere to buy time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/time-i-would-have-gone-somewhere-to-buy-time/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“The month behind her had gone, leaving nothing but the blank of dead time. It had gone into the planless, thankless work of racing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-month-behind-her-had-gone-leaving-nothing-but-the-blank-of-dead/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I been a long time leaving but I'm going to be a long time gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/i-been-a-long-time-leaving-but-i-m-going-to-be-a-long-time-gone/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [Nothing could be slow enough, nothing lasts too long. No pleasure could equal, she thought, straightening the chairs, pushing in one book on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/nothing-could-be-slow-enough-nothing-lasts-too-long-no-pleasure-could/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“The time is gone when mere accidents could still happen to me; and what could still come to me now that was not mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-time-is-gone-when-mere-accidents-could-still-happen-to-me-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Any time gone by was better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-time-gone-by-was-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ottessa Moshfegh > [Sometimes I think I'm a nihilist because it doesn't matter, none of this matters. We're all following the will of some unknowable higher power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/sometimes-i-think-i-m-a-nihilist-because-it-doesn-t-matter-none-of/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [If you look at the horror genre, that work is all about making people uncomfortable by stimulating our fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/if-you-look-at-the-horror-genre-that-work-is-all-about-making-people/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“...the face I wore at work, my death mask.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/the-face-i-wore-at-work-my-death-mask/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [I've always really enjoyed sharing my work with others. I find it really hard if I don't think the work will exist outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/i-ve-always-really-enjoyed-sharing-my-work-with-others-i-find-it/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [Indifference is the saddest state of being. It's like PTSD - you're not gonna fight, you're not gonna run, you're just frozen there, feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/indifference-is-the-saddest-state-of-being-it-s-like-ptsd-you-re-not/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“Talking to Reva about misery was insufferable. 'Look on the bright side,' was what she wanted everyone to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/talking-to-reva-about-misery-was-insufferable-look-on-the-bright-side/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [ What's inspiring me the most \[is\] injustice. My own growth as a member of the human race, in terms of the veils being lifted,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/what-s-inspiring-me-the-most-is-injustice-my-own-growth-as-a-member/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“Knowledge of anything current or faddish made me feel I was just a victim of isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/knowledge-of-anything-current-or-faddish-made-me-feel-i-was-just-a/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“I wanted to hold onto the house the way you'd hold onto a love letter. 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I could borrow a few of the finer books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/but-maybe-i-d-need-something-to-read-on-my-ride-to-my-future-i/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“The stars come out. I look for the moon, but it eludes me. I can't find or measure my way. Drift, drift. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/the-stars-come-out-i-look-for-the-moon-but-it-eludes-me-i-can-t-find/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [“Right," I said, but it didn't feel very right. I didn't want to make it. I wanted to lie down with it and strangle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/right-i-said-but-it-didn-t-feel-very-right-i-didn-t-want-to-make-it-i/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [For me, I enjoy intimidating people and I enjoy being intimidated. It is exciting. It's cool to have an experience with someone where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/for-me-i-enjoy-intimidating-people-and-i-enjoy-being-intimidated-it/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) [Explore all 82 Ottessa Moshfegh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) ## More Long time quotes > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. 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Some people called that place friendship; others called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslye-walton/for-a-very-long-time-viviane-and-jack-lived-in-that-world-people/) [Leslye Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslye-walton/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [“For a long time before I met you, I felt my life was this kind of test. I was in deep, cold water, swimming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/for-a-long-time-before-i-met-you-i-felt-my-life-was-this-kind-of-test/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [“If you go to bed too early and get up too late you probably won't sleep especially well. This could show up as either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-a-lewis/if-you-go-to-bed-too-early-and-get-up-too-late-you-probably-won-t/) [Penelope A. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-a-lewis/) > [I have been famous for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/i-have-been-famous-for-a-long-time/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) Browse all 9,064 Long time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was nervous. 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