--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was as though she had some alter ego…" description: "\"“It was as though she had some alter ego who told her she did not belong here. But she had never known anywhere else, and where else could there be?”\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/penelope-lively-3959_alter_it-was-as-though-she-had-some-alter-ego_2936449.png" --- # It was as though she had some alter ego who told her she… ![“It was as though she had some alter ego who told her she did not belong here. But she had never known anywhere else, and where else could there be?” quote by Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/penelope-lively-3959_alter_it-was-as-though-she-had-some-alter-ego_2936449.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/penelope-lively-3959_alter_it-was-as-though-she-had-some-alter-ego_2936449.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f58/penelope-lively-3959_alter_it-was-as-though-she-had-some-alter-ego_2936449.png) > ““It was as though she had some alter ego who told her she did not belong here. But she had never known anywhere else, and where else could there be?”” [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. A girl feels out of place, never knowing another home. **In simple terms:** Feeling displaced without a sense of belonging. Key Takeaway Seek belonging and self‑discovery. Themes identity belonging alienation Mood melancholic introspective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - immigration - college life - career changes Key Concepts psychological displacement search for home Questions to Reflect On - What defines “home” for you? - How do you cope with feeling out of place? A Different Perspective Belonging may be found within oneself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alter/) [Alter ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alter-ego/) [Belong Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belong-known-4354344/) [Did Belong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-belong-642740/) [Ego Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego-told-1841592/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [“My Ego said that I was a victim of circumstance. My Higher Self said that I create my own reality. My Ego told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mccrae/my-ego-said-that-i-was-a-victim-of-circumstance-my-higher-self-said/) [James McCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mccrae/) > [In America they like my spicy TV alter ego, probably because there were a lot of Italians and Hispanics in the country, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/in-america-they-like-my-spicy-tv-alter-ego-probably-because-there/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [We all turn into something different, I'm just glad that I'm aware that I've had this alter ego since I was five years old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/we-all-turn-into-something-different-i-m-just-glad-that-i-m-aware/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [I always wanted to have sort of an alter ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-balor/i-always-wanted-to-have-sort-of-an-alter-ego/) [Finn Balor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-balor/) > [I definitely have an alter ego that can come out and get me out of situations where I'm having social anxiety. I can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-booth/i-definitely-have-an-alter-ego-that-can-come-out-and-get-me-out-of/) [Lindy Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-booth/) > [I don't put on a persona. What you see is what you get. I have no alter-ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/i-don-t-put-on-a-persona-what-you-see-is-what-you-get-i-have-no-alter/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [Tina Snow' was more turnt up than anything I ever dropped, it's my alter ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/tina-snow-was-more-turnt-up-than-anything-i-ever-dropped-it-s-my/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [“The surname for my alter ego is Strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-sugg/the-surname-for-my-alter-ego-is-strong/) [Zoe Sugg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-sugg/) > [My alter ego does not look in too great a mood today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-de-pury/my-alter-ego-does-not-look-in-too-great-a-mood-today/) [Simon de Pury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-de-pury/) > [What you see on the pitch is, of course, me - but it's also a little bit of an alter ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kerr/what-you-see-on-the-pitch-is-of-course-me-but-it-s-also-a-little-bit/) [Sam Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kerr/) > [My alter egos have changed a lot over the years. When I was a child, I was a black horse called Storm. Whinnying and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romola-garai/my-alter-egos-have-changed-a-lot-over-the-years-when-i-was-a-child-i/) [Romola Garai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romola-garai/) > [“A man's alter ego is nothing more than his favorite image of himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-redding/a-man-s-alter-ego-is-nothing-more-than-his-favorite-image-of-himself/) [Stan Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-redding/) > [I don't feel I have an alter ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-don-t-feel-i-have-an-alter-ego/) [Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/) > [The Skipper has become my alter ego. I'm one and the same now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hale-jr/the-skipper-has-become-my-alter-ego-i-m-one-and-the-same-now/) [Alan Hale Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hale-jr/) > [“If there was a family in the world to which I did not belong, it was my own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-chance/if-there-was-a-family-in-the-world-to-which-i-did-not-belong-it-was/) [Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-chance/) ## 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/) > [“But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent, pervasive, slippery internal landscape known to no one else, that vast accretion of data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-that-evanescent-pervasive/) [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/) [Explore all 118 Penelope Lively quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## More Alter quotes > [“It’s hard to feel supported when you can’t tell people everything. People haven’t really got a clue what it’s like. It’s hard to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-jamieson/it-s-hard-to-feel-supported-when-you-can-t-tell-people-everything/) [Alice Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-jamieson/) > [“In order to get to know who is in your System, each individual alter needs to complete a piece of paper in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-t-w/in-order-to-get-to-know-who-is-in-your-system-each-individual-alter/) [A.T.W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-t-w/) > [“If we do not alter with the times, the times yet alter us. We may stand perfectly still, but our surroundings shift round and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/if-we-do-not-alter-with-the-times-the-times-yet-alter-us-we-may-stand/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [With every character, you alter, you can’t be attached to your own identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/with-every-character-you-alter-you-can-t-be-attached-to-your-own/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [Seeking approval and people pleasing forces you to alter your actions and speech to no longer reflect what you actually think or feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/seeking-approval-and-people-pleasing-forces-you-to-alter-your-actions/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Don't worry about things you cannot alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/don-t-worry-about-things-you-cannot-alter/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [“When you alter yourself, the alterations become the truth...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-you-alter-yourself-the-alterations-become-the-truth/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I wish I had more breaks in life, rather than life breaking me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/i-wish-i-had-more-breaks-in-life-rather-than-life-breaking-me/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [When I need the idea, I can find it immediately. I have a horror of rewriting or deleting; the parts of my composition are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruggero-leoncavallo/when-i-need-the-idea-i-can-find-it-immediately-i-have-a-horror-of/) [Ruggero Leoncavallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruggero-leoncavallo/) > [A number of well-understood mechanisms, including single gene mutations, produce changes that qualify as macroevolution. These include heterochronic mutations that alter structures by changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/a-number-of-well-understood-mechanisms-including-single-gene/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [Public officials insult our intelligence and our goodwill when they paint rosy pictures about budgets, jobs, bipartisanship, and transparency, and alter their positions on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/public-officials-insult-our-intelligence-and-our-goodwill-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [As technology and science advances, I think the ability to alter yourself should be embraced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/as-technology-and-science-advances-i-think-the-ability-to-alter/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [There came a point in time when Michael was under a great deal of pressure to alter the film in a way that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-stowe/there-came-a-point-in-time-when-michael-was-under-a-great-deal-of/) [Madeleine Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-stowe/) > [Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/never-forget-this-very-moment-we-can-change-our-lives-there-never-was/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) [Browse all 128 Alter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was as though she had some alter ego who told her she did not belong here. 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