--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We seemed to share certain ideas about…" description: "\"“We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in childhood, when you have to place yourself under the sign of your own name, your face, your voi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png" --- # We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in… ![“We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in childhood, when you have to place yourself under the sign of your own name, your face, your voice, your outward reality. When you become a fixed position, a thing to others and to yourself. There were times, I told him, at the age of five…” quote by Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png) > ““We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in childhood, when you have to place yourself under the sign of your own name, your face, your voice, your outward reality. When you become a fixed position, a thing to others and to yourself. There were times, I told him, at the age of five, six, seven, when it was a shock to me that I was trapped in my own body. Suddenly I would feel locked into an identity, trapped inside myself, as if the container of my person were some kind of terrible mistake. My own voice and arms, my name, seemed wrong. As if I were a dispersed set of nodes that had been falsely organized into a form, and I was living in a nightmare, forced to see from out of this limited and unreal “me.” I wasn’t so sure I occupied one place, one person, and Sandro said this made sense, this instinct of a child, to question the artificial confines of personhood.”” [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores childhood’s dawning awareness of self‑identity as a constructed, restrictive label that feels alien and confining. **In simple terms:** Children realize their identity feels imposed and false. Key Takeaway Question imposed identities and seek authentic self‑expression. Themes identity childhood self‑perception psychology existential Mood reflective introspective thoughtful Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative writing - parent‑child discussions - educational workshops - personal journaling Key Concepts self‑construction alienation body image personhood Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when your identity feels imposed? - What steps can you take to reshape your sense of self? A Different Perspective The perspective may overgeneralize childhood experience; not all children feel trapped. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Personhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personhood/) ## Related quotes > [“And I never wanted Tegan to not get what I was gonna get. 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I sill cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soullesstemptaion-seductivepain/it-seems-like-i-m-a-no-one-i-strive-so-hard-to-know-my-self-i-m/) SoullessTemptaion SeductivePain > [“I’m keeping a lot of things from you.” My insides took a steep dive. “Like?” “Like the way I feel about being locked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-m-keeping-a-lot-of-things-from-you-my-insides-took-a-steep-dive/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Are you keeping anything else from me?” “I’m keeping a lot of things from you.” “Like?” “Like the way I feel about being locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/are-you-keeping-anything-else-from-me-i-m-keeping-a-lot-of-things/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“How would you feel if you were locked up in the attic for 15 years I bet you would go crazy too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-roach/how-would-you-feel-if-you-were-locked-up-in-the-attic-for-15-years-i/) Anne Roach > [It seems like I'm a noone I strive so hard to know my self I'm conffused I sill cannot see What makes me tick?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theshadowofhell/it-seems-like-i-m-a-noone-i-strive-so-hard-to-know-my-self-i-m/) TheShadowOfhell > [If your nature is infinite awareness trapped in a body, suddenly there's a lack of happiness, a lack of freedom. No matter what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-your-nature-is-infinite-awareness-trapped-in-a-body-suddenly-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“It was quiet and smooth -a gazelle trapped in the body of a wart hog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/it-was-quiet-and-smooth-a-gazelle-trapped-in-the-body-of-a-wart-hog/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [I was like a Borscht Belt comedian trapped in the body of a 6-year-old. I was channeling Jackie Mason at 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gad/i-was-like-a-borscht-belt-comedian-trapped-in-the-body-of-a-6-year/) [Josh Gad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gad/) > [“Darkness/Imprisoning Me/All That I See/Absolute Horror/I Cannot Live/I Cannot Die/Trapped In Myself/Body My Holding Cell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metallica/darkness-imprisoning-me-all-that-i-see-absolute-horror-i-cannot-live/) [Metallica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metallica/) > [I am trapped in this body, and there is nothing I can do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dudley-moore/i-am-trapped-in-this-body-and-there-is-nothing-i-can-do-about-it/) [Dudley Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dudley-moore/) > [“I don't know what I want but it's not this. I don't want to be this person, I don't want to be trapped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/i-don-t-know-what-i-want-but-it-s-not-this-i-don-t-want-to-be-this/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [“This is what I knew: I was trapped in my body, in that bed, at that moment. But even as I looked out through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/this-is-what-i-knew-i-was-trapped-in-my-body-in-that-bed-at-that/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [“Don’t you ever pull that shit again,” he said between bruising kisses. He pressed her up against the wall and trapped her with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/don-t-you-ever-pull-that-shit-again-he-said-between-bruising-kisses/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [I have no idea what I am talking about I'm trapped in this body and can't get out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-have-no-idea-what-i-am-talking-about-i-m-trapped-in-this-body-and/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) ## More by Rachel Kushner > [Leave, with no answer. Move on to the next question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/leave-with-no-answer-move-on-to-the-next-question/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [Motorcycles aren't about gaining agency, I don't think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/motorcycles-aren-t-about-gaining-agency-i-don-t-think/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [“Gloria was still talking, something about how shooting people was in a sense safer than making art, in terms of avoiding serious lapses in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/gloria-was-still-talking-something-about-how-shooting-people-was-in-a/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [“Because I didn't move here to fall in love. The desire for love is universal but that has never meant it's worthy of respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/because-i-didn-t-move-here-to-fall-in-love-the-desire-for-love-is/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [Authenticity is too big a subject to just toss in with the question about the photographs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/authenticity-is-too-big-a-subject-to-just-toss-in-with-the-question/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [“We were in separate realities, fast and slow. There is no fixed reality, only objects in contrast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/we-were-in-separate-realities-fast-and-slow-there-is-no-fixed-reality/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [It's really a misconception to identify the writer with the main character, given that the author creates all the characters in the book. 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For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/but-i-had-seen-the-night-i-met-her-that-her-beauty-was-going-to-leave/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [When I see things in the world that leap out at me, I want to make use of them in fiction. Maybe every writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/when-i-see-things-in-the-world-that-leap-out-at-me-i-want-to-make-use/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [While it might be true that our reality would suggest that more writers would address these elemental issues of modern life - work, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/while-it-might-be-true-that-our-reality-would-suggest-that-more/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [And here I arrive at my point. The point is that everyone has a different dream. The point is that it is a grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/and-here-i-arrive-at-my-point-the-point-is-that-everyone-has-a/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [I guess I still feel that way and yet I'm slightly hesitant to insist on that idea, that it "better be fun for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/i-guess-i-still-feel-that-way-and-yet-i-m-slightly-hesitant-to-insist/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) > [A lot of politics in art is just institutional critique, which, in my opinion, is not all that political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/a-lot-of-politics-in-art-is-just-institutional-critique-which-in-my/) [Rachel Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) [Explore all 124 Rachel Kushner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/) ## More Childhood quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/from-childhood-s-hour-i-have-not-been-as-others-were-i-have-not-seen/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I had a rough upbringing. Group homes. Foster homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-shamrock/i-had-a-rough-upbringing-group-homes-foster-homes/) [Frank Shamrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-shamrock/) > [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Every man remembers his childhood as a kind of mythical age, just as every nation's childhood is its mythical age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/every-man-remembers-his-childhood-as-a-kind-of-mythical-age-just-as/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [It's a very familiar type of place where people either go to their house on the lake or they get together in different places.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/it-s-a-very-familiar-type-of-place-where-people-either-go-to-their/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [On paper, it looks rough, but I had a great childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-morton/on-paper-it-looks-rough-but-i-had-a-great-childhood/) [Samantha Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-morton/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. 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It was a mixture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/i-m-not-sure-i-would-have-ever-started-to-draw-let-alone-write-if-my/) [Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/) [Browse all 5,837 Childhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in childhood, when you have to place yourself under the sign of your own name, your face, your voice, your outward reality. When you become a fixed position, a thing to others and to yourself. There were times, I told him, at the age of five, six, seven, when it was a shock to me that I was trapped in my own body. Suddenly I would feel locked into an identity, trapped inside myself, as if the container of my person were some kind of terrible mistake. My own voice and arms, my name, seemed wrong. As if I were a dispersed set of nodes that had been falsely organized into a form, and I was living in a nightmare, forced to see from out of this limited and unreal “me.” I wasn’t so sure I occupied one place, one person, and Sandro said this made sense, this instinct of a child, to question the artificial confines of personhood.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rachel Kushner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-what-happens-in-childhood-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Childhood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-what-happens-in-childhood-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/176/rachel-kushner-3631_childhood_we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-w_2664415.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We seemed to share certain ideas about what happens in childhood, when you have to place yourself under the…” — Rachel Kushner", "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": "Rachel Kushner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-kushner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We seemed to share certain ideas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-what-happens-in-childhood-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-kushner/we-seemed-to-share-certain-ideas-about-what-happens-in-childhood-when/#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 } } ] } ```