--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But her thoughts are often of the past…" description: "\"“But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent, pervasive, slippery internal landscape known to no one else, that vast accretion of data on w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/penelope-lively-3959_past_but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-t_124714.jpg" --- # But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent… ![“But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent, pervasive, slippery internal landscape known to no one else, that vast accretion of data on which you depend - without it you would not be yourself. Impossible to share and no one else could view it anyway. The past is out ultimate privacy…” quote by Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/penelope-lively-3959_past_but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-t_124714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/penelope-lively-3959_past_but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-t_124714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/penelope-lively-3959_past_but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-t_124714.jpg) > ““But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent, pervasive, slippery internal landscape known to no one else, that vast accretion of data on which you depend - without it you would not be yourself. Impossible to share and no one else could view it anyway. The past is out ultimate privacy; we pile it up, year by year, decade by decade, it stows itself away, with its perverse random recall system.”” [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our internal narrative—private, fleeting memories and thoughts—forms the core of identity, yet it remains inaccessible to others and is stored in a chaotic, selective archive. **In simple terms:** Memory shapes self, but is private and unreliable. Key Takeaway Personal memory is both identity and ultimate privacy. Themes memory identity privacy subjectivity Mood melancholic introspective Type essay metaphorical When to use this quote - journaling to capture fleeting thoughts - therapeutic work on memory recall Key Concepts epistemic isolation temporal fragmentation Practical Applications - Use reflective writing to externalize private mental landscapes Questions to Reflect On - How does the unreliability of memory affect our sense of self? - Can we ever truly share the interior of our mind? A Different Perspective The metaphor of a random recall system may overstate the chaos; memory can also be organized and purposeful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The past is our ultimate privacy; we pile it up, year by year, decade by decade, it stows itself away, with its perverse random…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/the-past-is-our-ultimate-privacy-we-pile-it-up-year-by-year-decade-by/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [I am utterly devoted to the present moment. Don't move into the past because that is memory; there is no relevant existence to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/i-am-utterly-devoted-to-the-present-moment-don-t-move-into-the-past/) [OSHO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Possessed with a thousand thoughts of past joys”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphra-behn/possessed-with-a-thousand-thoughts-of-past-joys/) [Aphra Behn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphra-behn/) > [With thoughts of the past and concerns about the future, we rob ourselves of a full experience of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/with-thoughts-of-the-past-and-concerns-about-the-future-we-rob/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“I didn't leave right away. I stayed in the woods. I heard the faint voices of other people. I felt the cold against my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-vivian/i-didn-t-leave-right-away-i-stayed-in-the-woods-i-heard-the-faint/) [Siobhan Vivian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-vivian/) > [It seems to me self-evident that it is worthwhile to understand the best thoughts of the past, to appropriate them, to criticize them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/it-seems-to-me-self-evident-that-it-is-worthwhile-to-understand-the/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [“His youth reappeared, bringing with it all those sweet souvenirs which are rather perfumes than thoughts. Between that past and the present there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/his-youth-reappeared-bringing-with-it-all-those-sweet-souvenirs-which/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [“Anxiety is the subtle and pervasive destroyer of our happiness. It depends on thoughts of past and future. It cannot exist in the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-chozen-bays/anxiety-is-the-subtle-and-pervasive-destroyer-of-our-happiness-it/) [Jan Chozen Bays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-chozen-bays/) > [“In the rational light of day, he could tell himself that it was better this way, for both of them. The past was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-dune/in-the-rational-light-of-day-he-could-tell-himself-that-it-was-better/) [Kyra Dune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-dune/) > [“Your dominant thoughts from your past have produced your today. Your dominant thoughts today will produce your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/your-dominant-thoughts-from-your-past-have-produced-your-today-your/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Hey Mrs. Beautiful there's somethin that you need to know, All your thoughts of past pain they need to go, I know its difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diggy-simmons/hey-mrs-beautiful-there-s-somethin-that-you-need-to-know-all-your/) [Diggy Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diggy-simmons/) > [ “\[We\] have a tendency during meetings to let our minds run wild and cycle through a plethora of thoughts about the past and the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-a-tendency-during-meetings-to-let-our-minds-run-wild-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more thoughts of the past we carry in our heart. The less capable we are of loving and living in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/the-more-thoughts-of-the-past-we-carry-in-our-heart-the-less-capable/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“If we could live all our lives in the present, with no recourse to what has gone before or what might yet be, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-burt/if-we-could-live-all-our-lives-in-the-present-with-no-recourse-to/) Guy Burt > [“Nothing can change the past, including thought. However, dwelling on thoughts about the past does change our experience of the Now. When we drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-lake/nothing-can-change-the-past-including-thought-however-dwelling-on/) [Gina Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-lake/) ## More by Penelope Lively > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“The question is, shall it or shall it not be linear history. I've always thought a kaleidoscopic view might be an interesting heresey. Shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/the-question-is-shall-it-or-shall-it-not-be-linear-history-i-ve/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [There's a preoccupation with memory and the operation of memory and a rather rapacious interest in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/there-s-a-preoccupation-with-memory-and-the-operation-of-memory-and-a/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“He felt marvellously conscious of the moment, of here and now, of this day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/he-felt-marvellously-conscious-of-the-moment-of-here-and-now-of-this/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [People die, but money never does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/people-die-but-money-never-does/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Unless I am a part of everything I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/unless-i-am-a-part-of-everything-i-am-nothing/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Getting to know someone else involves curiosity about where they have come from, who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/getting-to-know-someone-else-involves-curiosity-about-where-they-have/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [I'm intrigued by the way in which physical appearance can often direct a person's life; things happen differently for a beautiful woman than for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-m-intrigued-by-the-way-in-which-physical-appearance-can-often/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Since then, I have just read and read - but, that said, I suppose there is a raft of writers to whom I return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/since-then-i-have-just-read-and-read-but-that-said-i-suppose-there-is/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“I have a print - you can buy them at the Victoria and Albert Museum - of a photograph of the village street of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-have-a-print-you-can-buy-them-at-the-victoria-and-albert-museum-of/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Every novel generates its own climate, when you get going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/every-novel-generates-its-own-climate-when-you-get-going/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“The power of language. Preserving the ephemeral; giving form to dreams, permanence to sparks of sunlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/the-power-of-language-preserving-the-ephemeral-giving-form-to-dreams/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [We all need a past - that's where our sense of identity comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/we-all-need-a-past-that-s-where-our-sense-of-identity-comes-from/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Conventional forms of narrative allow for different points of view, but for this book I wanted a structure whereby each of the main characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/conventional-forms-of-narrative-allow-for-different-points-of-view/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [If people don't read, that's their choice; a lifelong book habit may itself be some sort of affliction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/if-people-don-t-read-that-s-their-choice-a-lifelong-book-habit-may/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) [Explore all 118 Penelope Lively quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## More Past quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You can think about it, wonder what went wrong, over analyze the situation but the fact remains... it's the past, just let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-can-think-about-it-wonder-what-went-wrong-over-analyze-the/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [Right before the pandemic, 'Past Lives' came across to me as something to read and possibly put myself on tape for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/right-before-the-pandemic-past-lives-came-across-to-me-as-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-zimmermann/at-no-time-in-the-past-century-has-public-distrust-of-the-government/) [Phil Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-zimmermann/) > [Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/voting-labour-in-the-past-hasn-t-protected-scotland-against-tory/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) [Browse all 19,844 Past quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But her thoughts are often of the past. 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