--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing I've found that I can do that I…" description: "\"One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is rereading my own writing, earlier stories and novels especially. It induces mental time trave..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/philip-k-dick-502_can-do_one-thing-i-ve-found-that-i-can-do-that_3209394.jpg" --- # One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is… ![“One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is rereading my own writing, earlier stories and novels especially. It induces mental time travel, the same way certain songs you hear on the radio do ... the whole thing returns, an eerie feeling that I'm sure you've experienced.” quote by Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/philip-k-dick-502_can-do_one-thing-i-ve-found-that-i-can-do-that_3209394.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/philip-k-dick-502_can-do_one-thing-i-ve-found-that-i-can-do-that_3209394.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/572/philip-k-dick-502_can-do_one-thing-i-ve-found-that-i-can-do-that_3209394.jpg) > “One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is rereading my own writing, earlier stories and novels especially. It induces mental time travel, the same way certain songs you hear on the radio do ... the whole thing returns, an eerie feeling that I'm sure you've experienced.” [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revisiting one's own work triggers nostalgic mental journeys similar to hearing familiar music, evoking a haunting sense of déjà vu. **In simple terms:** Reading old writing feels like time travel. Key Takeaway Use past work to inspire current creativity. Themes nostalgia creativity reflection memory Mood reflective inspired Type literary psychological When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative blocks - personal memoirs - teaching literature Key Concepts self‑analysis artistic growth psychology Questions to Reflect On - What emotions arise when you reread old stories? - How can you turn nostalgia into constructive insight? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may idealize past work, hindering growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Eerie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eerie/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enjoy Rereading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-rereading-5990717/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Rereading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rereading/) [Rereading Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rereading-writing-5990716/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-travel/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-earlier-2783777/) ## Related quotes > [But most weeks I've gone through 12 books, maybe even 15 some weeks, depending on the length. So I go through my long form,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-popova/but-most-weeks-i-ve-gone-through-12-books-maybe-even-15-some-weeks/) [Maria Popova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-popova/) > [Rereading Candide, I was struck by the link between optimism and the optimal, the idea that we have been placed in this optimal world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/rereading-candide-i-was-struck-by-the-link-between-optimism-and-the/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) > [“‎"Since I could only take six books per visit from the library, I had to time it right, or I'd be stuck on Sundays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-susan-meyers/since-i-could-only-take-six-books-per-visit-from-the-library-i-had-to/) [Randy Susan Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-susan-meyers/) > [I love rereading Shakespeare plays and Im constantly finding bits that Ive overlooked or not understood before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/i-love-rereading-shakespeare-plays-and-im-constantly-finding-bits/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [“I used to think rewatching and rereading were embarrassingly boring pastimes. But there is something to be said for how comforting it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lord/i-used-to-think-rewatching-and-rereading-were-embarrassingly-boring/) [Emery Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lord/) > [So he lent her books. After all, one of life's best pleasures is reading a book of perfect beauty; more pleasurable still is rereading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-he-lent-her-books-after-all-one-of-life-s-best-pleasures-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always nervous about going home, just as I am nervous about rereading books that have meant a lot to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-m-always-nervous-about-going-home-just-as-i-am-nervous-about/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“The process of continually rereading and drawing out new meanings from words would not have been possible unless the words themselves were already open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-process-of-continually-rereading-and-drawing-out-new-meanings/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“I probably reread novels more often than I read new ones. The novel form is made for rereading. Novels are by their nature too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-hadley/i-probably-reread-novels-more-often-than-i-read-new-ones-the-novel/) [Tessa Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-hadley/) > [When you're rereading or editing your book and you start to expect that this work is going to be reviewed, and you can sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-laird/when-you-re-rereading-or-editing-your-book-and-you-start-to-expect/) [Nick Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-laird/) > [Each year is like writing a new chapter in a book, make each one worth rereading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-year-is-like-writing-a-new-chapter-in-a-book-make-each-one-worth/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[People who have left the ISIS\] say that there comes a moment when the inconsistencies and apparent hypocrisies of their sheikh lets them down,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rukmini-maria-callimachi/people-who-have-left-the-isis-say-that-there-comes-a-moment-when-the/) [Rukmini Maria Callimachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rukmini-maria-callimachi/) > [Thou shalt not let a day pass without rereading something great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vizinczey/thou-shalt-not-let-a-day-pass-without-rereading-something-great/) [Stephen Vizinczey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vizinczey/) > [Usually when I put together a book like this Death-Ray hardcover or that Ghost World special edition, then I have to reread it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/usually-when-i-put-together-a-book-like-this-death-ray-hardcover-or/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [“No reader can fail to agree that the number of books she needs to read far exceeds her capacities, but when the passion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-meyers-spacks/no-reader-can-fail-to-agree-that-the-number-of-books-she-needs-to/) [Patricia Meyers Spacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-meyers-spacks/) ## More by Philip K. Dick > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Even if all life on our planet is destroyed, there must be other life somewhere which we know nothing of. It is impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/even-if-all-life-on-our-planet-is-destroyed-there-must-be-other-life/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“That is not how you do it; you do not solve one problem with another, greater problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/that-is-not-how-you-do-it-you-do-not-solve-one-problem-with-another/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [For each person there is a sentence—a series of words—which has the power to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/for-each-person-there-is-a-sentence-a-series-of-words-which-has-the/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-want-to-write-about-people-i-love-and-put-them-into-a-fictional/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The day came. The wrath descended. Sin, guilt, and retribution? The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The church of my choice is the free, open world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-church-of-my-choice-is-the-free-open-world/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“I see,' Rick said. He felt numb. Completely. Throughout his entire body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-see-rick-said-he-felt-numb-completely-throughout-his-entire-body/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“What is identity? he asked himself. Where does the act end? Nobody knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-is-identity-he-asked-himself-where-does-the-act-end-nobody-knows/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [What scared me the most was when my father would put on the gasmask. His face would disappear... This was not a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-scared-me-the-most-was-when-my-father-would-put-on-the-gasmask/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“A man is an angel that has become deranged, Joe Fernwright thought. Once they – all of them – had been genuine angels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-man-is-an-angel-that-has-become-deranged-joe-fernwright-thought/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-do-i-see-a-photograph-when-a-reflection/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [My major preoccupation is the question, 'What is reality?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/my-major-preoccupation-is-the-question-what-is-reality/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Explore all 489 Philip K. Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) [Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing I've found that I can do that I really enjoy is rereading my own writing, earlier stories and novels especially. It induces mental time travel, the same way certain songs you hear on the radio do ... the whole thing returns, an eerie feeling that I'm sure you've experienced.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip K. 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