--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found my mind wandering at games; loved…" description: "\"“I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was good at it; and in summer, having chosen rowing instead of cricket, lay peacefully by the Sto..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg" --- # I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was… ![“I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was good at it; and in summer, having chosen rowing instead of cricket, lay peacefully by the Stour, well upstream of the rhythmic creaking and the exhortation, reading Lily Christine and Gibbon and gossiping with kindred lotus-eaters under the…” quote by Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg) > ““I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was good at it; and in summer, having chosen rowing instead of cricket, lay peacefully by the Stour, well upstream of the rhythmic creaking and the exhortation, reading Lily Christine and Gibbon and gossiping with kindred lotus-eaters under the willow-branches.”” [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A nostalgic recollection of youthful leisure, blending sport, nature, and literary pursuits as a means of personal escape and self‑discovery. **In simple terms:** Reflective nostalgia of personal growth Key Takeaway leisure shapes identity Themes nostalgia leisure nature literature self‑discovery Mood contemplative warm melancholic Type personal anecdote literary vignette When to use this quote - summer holidays - after‑school free time - solo retreats - friends gathering Key Concepts sport reading solitude social bonding Practical Applications - creative writing inspiration - personal development workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does leisure influence your sense of self? - What role does nature play in your creative thinking? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-time/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) ## Related quotes > [I've loved boxing due to the history of boxing. It was one of the great American pastimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/i-ve-loved-boxing-due-to-the-history-of-boxing-it-was-one-of-the/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [My father was an army champion boxer... in the British army. And so he loved boxing and talked it up as a sport. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/my-father-was-an-army-champion-boxer-in-the-british-army-and-so-he/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I've always loved boxing. It's something I've always been extremely excited about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-ve-always-loved-boxing-it-s-something-i-ve-always-been-extremely/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [“Much of the time the mind is wandering, either drawn to focus, ruminate, or push away unpleasant experiences, or chasing after stuff we like.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-halliwell/much-of-the-time-the-mind-is-wandering-either-drawn-to-focus-ruminate/) [Ed Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-halliwell/) > [“We can realize, not that our mind is wandering, but that it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-can-realize-not-that-our-mind-is-wandering-but-that-it-was/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [In an asana, the mind has to reach inside the body to find a quiet space until a point comes where perfect balance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geeta-iyengar/in-an-asana-the-mind-has-to-reach-inside-the-body-to-find-a-quiet-2/) [Geeta Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geeta-iyengar/) > [Don't let your mind go wandering, its too small to go out by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-let-your-mind-go-wandering-its-too-small-to-go-out-by-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am not talking about rebelliousness, but giving people time for constructive internal reflection and even daydreaming. A lot of research is suggesting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-barry-kaufman/i-am-not-talking-about-rebelliousness-but-giving-people-time-for/) [Scott Barry Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-barry-kaufman/) > [The brain has an attentional mode called the "mind wandering mode" that was only recently identified. This is when thoughts move seamlessly from one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-brain-has-an-attentional-mode-called-the-mind-wandering-mode-that/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [“Your mind is wandering, desperately trying to keep itself amused. It's not crazy, says therapist Cineas; it could just be a way to occupy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenore-skenazy/your-mind-is-wandering-desperately-trying-to-keep-itself-amused-it-s/) [Lenore Skenazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenore-skenazy/) > [“Whenever you catch your mind wandering back into the forbidden territory (and you can be sure that it will—more frequently at first, until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-macarthur-jr/whenever-you-catch-your-mind-wandering-back-into-the-forbidden/) [John F. MacArthur Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-macarthur-jr/) > [Yes, my mind was wandering. I wished I were there with someone who could bring peace to my heart someone with whom I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/yes-my-mind-was-wandering-i-wished-i-were-there-with-someone-who/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“It is a mind-wandering time Remember the old times when illusions were distinct Remember the old times when a friendly chat was all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rixa-white/it-is-a-mind-wandering-time-remember-the-old-times-when-illusions/) [Rixa White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rixa-white/) > [Sorry... my mind was wandering... one time it went all the way to Venus and ordered a meal I couldn’t pay for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/sorry-my-mind-was-wandering-one-time-it-went-all-the-way-to-venus-and/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“Monkey-mind” describes an especially agitated state where attention jumps rapidly from one thing to the next, like an excited monkey. This is quite different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yates/monkey-mind-describes-an-especially-agitated-state-where-attention/) [John Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yates/) ## More by Patrick Leigh Fermor > [“Paradox reconciles all contradictions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/paradox-reconciles-all-contradictions/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“A little later, as we talked of the Maniot dirges by which I was obsessed, I was surprised to hear this bloodshot-eyed and barefoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/a-little-later-as-we-talked-of-the-maniot-dirges-by-which-i-was/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“All horsepower corrupts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/all-horsepower-corrupts/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [Looking backward we could almost see, suspended with the most delicate equipoise above the flat little island, the ghostly shapes of those twin orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/looking-backward-we-could-almost-see-suspended-with-the-most-delicate/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“At school some learning by heart was compulsory, though not irksome. But this intake was out-distanced many times, as it always is among people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/at-school-some-learning-by-heart-was-compulsory-though-not-irksome/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [ “\[Poetry\] is a field where England can take on all challengers.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/poetry-is-a-field-where-england-can-take-on-all-challengers/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“Often, half in a bay of the mountains and half on a headland, a small and nearly amphibian Schloss mouldered in the failing light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/often-half-in-a-bay-of-the-mountains-and-half-on-a-headland-a-small/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“Scattered with poppies, the golden-green waves of the cornfields faded. The red sun seemed to tip one end of a pair of scales below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/scattered-with-poppies-the-golden-green-waves-of-the-cornfields-faded/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) > [“These summer nights are short. Going to bed before midnight is unthinkable and talk, wine, moonlight and the warm air are often in league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/these-summer-nights-are-short-going-to-bed-before-midnight-is/) [Patrick Leigh Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) [Explore all 10 Patrick Leigh Fermor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/) ## More Free time quotes > [“I settled into a contented routine of working, spending my free time with Veronica and, back in my student room, wanking explosively to fantasies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/i-settled-into-a-contented-routine-of-working-spending-my-free-time/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“Once upon a time in our not-so-distant past, experts predicted that with the rapidly increasing advances in technology, Americans would have a shorter workweek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-c-wilson/once-upon-a-time-in-our-not-so-distant-past-experts-predicted-that/) [Jared C. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-c-wilson/) > [“Most families have increased the speed of their lives and the number of their activities gradually--even unconsciously--over time. They realize that there are costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-john-payne/most-families-have-increased-the-speed-of-their-lives-and-the-number/) [Kim John Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-john-payne/) > [Even in those early years of Static-X, there was a pattern emerging where I would spend all my free time writing songs for Static-X…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-static/even-in-those-early-years-of-static-x-there-was-a-pattern-emerging/) [Wayne Static](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-static/) > [“I admire all the great people who have dedicated their free time to helping humanity move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/i-admire-all-the-great-people-who-have-dedicated-their-free-time-to/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“All right, you caught me. I'm secretly obsessed with you and spend all my free time writing about you in my journal. 'Dear Diary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scott/all-right-you-caught-me-i-m-secretly-obsessed-with-you-and-spend-all/) [Elizabeth Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scott/) > [“What if I turned out to be a great kisser, and suddenly, girls everywhere wanted to kiss me? Did I really want to risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-madden/what-if-i-turned-out-to-be-a-great-kisser-and-suddenly-girls/) S.L. Madden > [“This is possibly the most revolutionary idea Marx ever had: that the reduction of labour to a minimum could produce a kind of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mason/this-is-possibly-the-most-revolutionary-idea-marx-ever-had-that-the/) [Paul Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mason/) > [I'm in school every day. It depends on what it is that you do with all that free time when I'm not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-lyte/i-m-in-school-every-day-it-depends-on-what-it-is-that-you-do-with-all/) [MC Lyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-lyte/) > [“Most humans manage to squander their free time, as free time makes them dysfunctional, lazy, and unmotivated—the busier they get, the more active they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/most-humans-manage-to-squander-their-free-time-as-free-time-makes/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Missing someone and barely having the control to not text them every second that you have free time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/missing-someone-and-barely-having-the-control-to-not-text-them-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's why they call it work, because it's not what you'd prefer to do with your free time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-lane/that-s-why-they-call-it-work-because-it-s-not-what-you-d-prefer-to-do/) [Diane Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-lane/) > [The perfect life would be to have an amazing part every year and to spend all my free time to just write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-laurent/the-perfect-life-would-be-to-have-an-amazing-part-every-year-and-to/) [Melanie Laurent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-laurent/) > [You'd be surprised how much free time I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-rifkind/you-d-be-surprised-how-much-free-time-i-have/) Malcolm Rifkind > [I think I'm able to do so much because writing is what I love to do. So, often when I have free time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-think-i-m-able-to-do-so-much-because-writing-is-what-i-love-to-do/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) [Browse all 473 Free time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was good at it; and in summer, having chosen rowing instead of cricket, lay peacefully by the Stour, well upstream of the rhythmic creaking and the exhortation, reading Lily Christine and Gibbon and gossiping with kindred lotus-eaters under the willow-branches.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Leigh Fermor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved-boxing-and-was-good-at-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved-boxing-and-was-good-at-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/patrick-leigh-fermor-42052_free-time_i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved_70483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I found my mind wandering at games; loved boxing and was good at it; and in summer, having chosen rowing…” — Patrick Leigh Fermor", "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": "Patrick Leigh Fermor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leigh-fermor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I found my mind wandering at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved-boxing-and-was-good-at-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leigh-fermor/i-found-my-mind-wandering-at-games-loved-boxing-and-was-good-at-it/#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 } } ] } ```