--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but…" description: "\"“Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.”\" — Ray Bradbury" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg" --- # Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something… ![“Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg) > ““Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.”” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An idealized version of oneself is created by others' expectations, not by personal identity. **In simple terms:** Others shape an ideal version of you. Key Takeaway Recognize and define your own identity. Themes identity perception expectations Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career development - creative projects Key Concepts self-concept social influence idealization Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate your true self from others' expectations? - What steps can you take to assert your own identity? A Different Perspective The ideal may be unrealistic or limiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-ideal-3514613/) [Dead Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-better-339578/) [Ideal Shaped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-shaped-3514614/) [Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shaped Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaped-minds-3514612/) ## Related quotes > [If we can win games while we get better, that's ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/if-we-can-win-games-while-we-get-better-that-s-ideal/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [“Whatever she is now she's better than she was," said Bedloe. "Being dead is better than being dull, being dead is better than not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/whatever-she-is-now-she-s-better-than-she-was-said-bedloe-being-dead/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Are better than one's ideal to fityour own personality to it, the people you considered your ideal!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/are-better-than-one-s-ideal-to-fityour-own-personality-to-it-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Sometimes dead is better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sometimes-dead-is-better/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Greyson is gone.” A high-pitched ringing started in my ears. “Dead?” I asked, not at all ashamed at the tiny bit of hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/greyson-is-gone-a-high-pitched-ringing-started-in-my-ears-dead-i/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [You know that old saying. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You can’t learn to write in college. 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The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More Minds quotes > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. 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You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/what-i-love-most-about-her-majesty-is-that-she-has-kept-hats-alive-in/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [What bothers me about TV is that it tends to take our minds off our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/what-bothers-me-about-tv-is-that-it-tends-to-take-our-minds-off-our/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [People who are right most of the time are people who change their minds often](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/people-who-are-right-most-of-the-time-are-people-who-change-their/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“You can not have empty or neutral mind, as long as you work the mind will contain dreams, if you stop working it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/you-can-not-have-empty-or-neutral-mind-as-long-as-you-work-the-mind/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“they're fucking up minds they do not own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carroll/they-re-fucking-up-minds-they-do-not-own/) [jim carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carroll/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/) [Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/) > [In 'Self Comes to Mind' I pay a lot of attention to simple creatures without brains or minds, because those 'cartooned abstractions of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/in-self-comes-to-mind-i-pay-a-lot-of-attention-to-simple-creatures/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [“Creativity means bringing simplicity to the existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/creativity-means-bringing-simplicity-to-the-existing/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Our Heavenly Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is mightier in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-f-whitney/our-heavenly-father-is-far-more-merciful-infinitely-more-charitable/) [Orson F. Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-f-whitney/) > [I mean, the thing with Simple Minds is that there's many Simple Minds within Simple Minds. There was definitely an electronic art-rock phase; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kerr/i-mean-the-thing-with-simple-minds-is-that-there-s-many-simple-minds/) [Jim Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kerr/) > [Wars begin in the minds of men, and in those minds, love and compassion would have built the defenses of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-thant/wars-begin-in-the-minds-of-men-and-in-those-minds-love-and-compassion/) [U Thant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-thant/) > [Attempts to defend amusement parks and circuses on the grounds that they 'educate' people about animals should not be taken seriously. Such enterprises are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/attempts-to-defend-amusement-parks-and-circuses-on-the-grounds-that/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [None but ourselves can free our minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/none-but-ourselves-can-free-our-minds/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) [Browse all 906 Minds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ray Bradbury" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but-i-m-something-almost-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Minds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but-i-m-something-almost-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/ray-bradbury-75_minds_perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but_389202.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Perhaps I'm not their dead one back, but I'm something almost better to them; an ideal shaped by their minds.” — Ray Bradbury", "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": "Ray Bradbury", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Perhaps I'm not their dead one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but-i-m-something-almost-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/perhaps-i-m-not-their-dead-one-back-but-i-m-something-almost-better/#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 } } ] } ```