--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around a child, people come and go…" description: "\"“Around a child, people come and go, objects appear and are taken away, surroundings take shape and disintegrate. And no explanation is given, because ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/peter-hoeg-35897_children_around-a-child-people-come-and-go-object_1530198.jpg" --- # Around a child, people come and go, objects appear and are… ![“Around a child, people come and go, objects appear and are taken away, surroundings take shape and disintegrate. And no explanation is given, because how can you explain the world to a child? So she had used the words. Words call forth and secure that which has gone away. With her lists she had…” quote by Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/peter-hoeg-35897_children_around-a-child-people-come-and-go-object_1530198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/peter-hoeg-35897_children_around-a-child-people-come-and-go-object_1530198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/peter-hoeg-35897_children_around-a-child-people-come-and-go-object_1530198.jpg) > ““Around a child, people come and go, objects appear and are taken away, surroundings take shape and disintegrate. And no explanation is given, because how can you explain the world to a child? So she had used the words. Words call forth and secure that which has gone away. With her lists she had ensured that whatever she had once known would come back”” [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores how children perceive a changing world, the impermanence of objects, and the power of language to preserve memory. **In simple terms:** Children see a fleeting world; words help recall lost things. Key Takeaway Use storytelling to anchor memory. Themes childhood impermanence language Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - education - parenting - therapy - writing workshops Key Concepts memory preservation narrative framing Questions to Reflect On - How can we help children make sense of loss? - What role does language play in memory? A Different Perspective Children may not grasp abstract concepts without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Come Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-objects-5675993/) [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Explanation Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation-given-5675992/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Used Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-words-700644/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Forth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-forth-4778461/) ## Related quotes > [And we live in a kind of realm of language and words and so forth. So we can sort of relate to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/and-we-live-in-a-kind-of-realm-of-language-and-words-and-so-forth-so/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I don't think as clearly as I used to, and I'm not as quick-witted as I used to be. Sometimes, my words run together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/i-don-t-think-as-clearly-as-i-used-to-and-i-m-not-as-quick-witted-as/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She knew words no one had ever heard of, and she used words every day that had been mainly dead or sleeping for hundreds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/she-knew-words-no-one-had-ever-heard-of-and-she-used-words-every-day/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“That was the word she used to describe herself - fit. A.J. would've used other words. Like holy shit and sweet baby Jesus .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/that-was-the-word-she-used-to-describe-herself-fit-a-j-would-ve-used/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) > [The English language has about 450,000 commonly used words, but more may be needed. What to you call someone who has lost a sibling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-zaslow/the-english-language-has-about-450-000-commonly-used-words-but-more/) [Jeffrey Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-zaslow/) > [... I used words without precautions. I wanted to disappear into them, I fled into the bovaryism of the writer trying to create an effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/i-used-words-without-precautions-i-wanted-to-disappear-into-them-i/) [Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/) > [However, those who have used those words use half the sentence to fit their purpose, which, of course, I believe is to discredit me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/however-those-who-have-used-those-words-use-half-the-sentence-to-fit/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [“I've met people I didn't like. I've met people who've used words in ways I didn't like. I've never met a word I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-patricks/i-ve-met-people-i-didn-t-like-i-ve-met-people-who-ve-used-words-in/) [Jacqueline Patricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-patricks/) > [“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-had-a-word-too-love-he-called-it-but-i-had-been-used-to-words-for/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Popular women use positive, optimistic language in their online profiles, not buzzwords like "future thinker". Here are the ten most often used words I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-webb/popular-women-use-positive-optimistic-language-in-their-online/) [Amy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-webb/) > [I have used the words and expressions which my experiences from Minsk to Kharkov to the Don suggested to me. But I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-sajer/i-have-used-the-words-and-expressions-which-my-experiences-from-minsk/) [Guy Sajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-sajer/) > [For my own good. Anytime anyone had ever used those words to me, they hadn't had the slightest clue what ‘my own good’ truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/for-my-own-good-anytime-anyone-had-ever-used-those-words-to-me-they/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [“How carelessly we used words, thoughtless of the trail of slime and sludge they left behind. Mouth, tongue, teeth, all sullied with the rot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiqa-mansab/how-carelessly-we-used-words-thoughtless-of-the-trail-of-slime-and/) [Faiqa Mansab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiqa-mansab/) > [“People used words to try to change what they should be changing with their own two hands. And if the problem was too big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-mejia/people-used-words-to-try-to-change-what-they-should-be-changing-with/) [Mindy Mejia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-mejia/) ## More by Peter Hoeg > [“It's a phenomenon that I've often observed without understanding it. Inside someone another person can exist, a fully formed, generous, and trustworthy individual who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/it-s-a-phenomenon-that-i-ve-often-observed-without-understanding-it/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“If you consider all the unpleasantness you encounter while you're alive, it seems improbable that it would all come to an end simply because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/if-you-consider-all-the-unpleasantness-you-encounter-while-you-re/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“In ten years they would be dead, deported or in leadership positions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/in-ten-years-they-would-be-dead-deported-or-in-leadership-positions/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Cantor illustrated the concept of infinity for his students by telling them that there was once a man who had a hotel with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/cantor-illustrated-the-concept-of-infinity-for-his-students-by/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“We all live our lives blindly believing in the people who make the decisions. Believing in science. Because the world is inscrutable and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/we-all-live-our-lives-blindly-believing-in-the-people-who-make-the/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“April light was unlike any other. It had a charming, optimistic unreliability like an overbid hand in poker. It gave a promise of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/april-light-was-unlike-any-other-it-had-a-charming-optimistic/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Back then I could not understand one word of what I read. Reading did, however, give me heart. Even if you cannot understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/back-then-i-could-not-understand-one-word-of-what-i-read-reading-did/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“If you became blind," I said, "if you were used to finding your way around a house and then, suddenly, one day had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/if-you-became-blind-i-said-if-you-were-used-to-finding-your-way/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“Even the raven started out in human form, and he fumbled blindly, and his actions were haphazard until it was revealed to him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/even-the-raven-started-out-in-human-form-and-he-fumbled-blindly-and/) [peter hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) > [“One adopted their language, that of the teachers and the schools, one had none of one's own. At first it was like a release,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hoeg/one-adopted-their-language-that-of-the-teachers-and-the-schools-one/) [Peter Hoeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) [Explore all 11 Peter Hoeg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hoeg/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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