--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe it was the absence of thought that…" description: "\"“Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about being out there, the world narrowing to just the pounding of the waves as the water moved in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png" --- # Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about… ![“Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about being out there, the world narrowing to just the pounding of the waves as the water moved in and out.” quote by Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png) > ““Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about being out there, the world narrowing to just the pounding of the waves as the water moved in and out.”” [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She cherished the mind‑less immersion of the ocean, where thoughts faded and the present became pure sensation. **In simple terms:** She loved the ocean’s simple, thought‑free focus. Key Takeaway Seek moments that quiet the mind. Themes nature mindfulness solitude Mood calm reflective Type descriptive poetic When to use this quote - surfing - meditation - creative writing - stress relief Key Concepts sensory immersion flow state Questions to Reflect On - How can you recreate that focus elsewhere? - What activities bring you similar clarity? A Different Perspective Such moments can be fleeting and hard to find in daily life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Maybe Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-absence-704069/) [Pounding Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounding-waves-2857881/) [Water Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-moved-1452459/) [Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves/) [Waves Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves-water-1992449/) ## Related quotes > [Suppose a number of equal waves of water to move upon the surface of a stagnant lake, with a certain constant velocity, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/suppose-a-number-of-equal-waves-of-water-to-move-upon-the-surface-of/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [Once, she'd been a pro at decompressing, loved to sit on the back deck of the beach house in one of our splintery Adirondack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/once-she-d-been-a-pro-at-decompressing-loved-to-sit-on-the-back-deck/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I like to think I get better with age, but maybe absence makes the heart grow fonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/i-like-to-think-i-get-better-with-age-but-maybe-absence-makes-the/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [Maybe the absence of signs is a sign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/maybe-the-absence-of-signs-is-a-sign/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [“god is similar to the relation of the water of ocean to the waves of the ocean the sole Reality of the waves is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushil-singh/god-is-similar-to-the-relation-of-the-water-of-ocean-to-the-waves-of/) [Sushil Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushil-singh/) > [Surfing waves of water or clouds of powder snow is the best feeling on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/surfing-waves-of-water-or-clouds-of-powder-snow-is-the-best-feeling/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [Until 1985, when my lab found the protein they are made of, aquaporins hadn't yet been identified. There had been a controversy in biology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-agre/until-1985-when-my-lab-found-the-protein-they-are-made-of-aquaporins/) [Peter Agre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-agre/) > [An ocean traveler has even more vividly the impression that the ocean is made of waves than that it is made of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-ocean-traveler-has-even-more-vividly-the-impression-that-the-ocean/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“at the bottom of the ocean is a layer of water that has never moved…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/at-the-bottom-of-the-ocean-is-a-layer-of-water-that-has-never-moved/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) > [“The water moved under her, a black flow of melted glass. The thick electric wash of cricketsong, swarming particles of noise. Soon the desert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-calhoun/the-water-moved-under-her-a-black-flow-of-melted-glass-the-thick/) [Kenneth Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-calhoun/) > [The waves travel with the velocity of light and slightly squeeze and stretch space transverse to the direction of their motion. The first waves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-weiss/the-waves-travel-with-the-velocity-of-light-and-slightly-squeeze-and/) [Rainer Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-weiss/) > [Short films are good, especially since independent films are making waves now, more than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/short-films-are-good-especially-since-independent-films-are-making/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [You cant stop the waves but you can learn to surf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cant-stop-the-waves-but-you-can-learn-to-surf/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's different as a guest as opposed to being a star of a series. A guest star is a whole different responsibility. It's much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-s-different-as-a-guest-as-opposed-to-being-a-star-of-a-series-a/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) > [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) ## More by Sarah Dessen > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“if i were a book i would be so open”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/if-i-were-a-book-i-would-be-so-open/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Harder to get in than out, like so little else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/harder-to-get-in-than-out-like-so-little-else/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“At times, I found myself questioning his very existence, even though I knew I had, in fact, spotted him, with my own eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/at-times-i-found-myself-questioning-his-very-existence-even-though-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [When you had to do something, you had to do it. And eventually, if you were lucky, you did it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/when-you-had-to-do-something-you-had-to-do-it-and-eventually-if-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [the truth about forever is that it is happening right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-truth-about-forever-is-that-it-is-happening-right-now/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I jammed my hand in my jacket pocket, bracing myself fo the next hit, and fel something. Something grainy and samll, sticking to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-jammed-my-hand-in-my-jacket-pocket-bracing-myself-fo-the-next-hit/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I had no illusions about love anymore. It came, it went, it left casualties or it didn't. People weren't meant to be together forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-had-no-illusions-about-love-anymore-it-came-it-went-it-left/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“But maybe that isn't so bad. You can't love anyone that way more than once in a lifetime. It's too hard and it hurts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/but-maybe-that-isn-t-so-bad-you-can-t-love-anyone-that-way-more-than/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [call it chicken salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/call-it-chicken-salad/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“For me, however, it was a mix of the two, this constant push and pull. I loved it here. But I'd been in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/for-me-however-it-was-a-mix-of-the-two-this-constant-push-and-pull-i/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think whenever a writer is really enjoying themselves and liking what they are doing, that shows on the page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-think-whenever-a-writer-is-really-enjoying-themselves-and-liking/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) [Explore all 1,251 Sarah Dessen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More Waves quotes > [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [It's different as a guest as opposed to being a star of a series. A guest star is a whole different responsibility. It's much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-s-different-as-a-guest-as-opposed-to-being-a-star-of-a-series-a/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) > [You cant stop the waves but you can learn to surf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cant-stop-the-waves-but-you-can-learn-to-surf/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Short films are good, especially since independent films are making waves now, more than before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/short-films-are-good-especially-since-independent-films-are-making/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [The waves travel with the velocity of light and slightly squeeze and stretch space transverse to the direction of their motion. The first waves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-weiss/the-waves-travel-with-the-velocity-of-light-and-slightly-squeeze-and/) [Rainer Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-weiss/) > [“Tossed By Waves, She Does Not Sink.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/tossed-by-waves-she-does-not-sink/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [My tears will keep no channel, know no laws to guide their streams, but like the waves, their cause, run with disturbance till they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleveland/my-tears-will-keep-no-channel-know-no-laws-to-guide-their-streams-but/) [John Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleveland/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [Guernsey itself was overcrowded, but its cliffs were utterly empty. I spent a wonderful year with a friend, climbing them. It was sheer magic:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mawer/guernsey-itself-was-overcrowded-but-its-cliffs-were-utterly-empty-i/) [Simon Mawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mawer/) > [Surf music is actually just the sound of the waves played on a guitar: that wet, splashy sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-dale/surf-music-is-actually-just-the-sound-of-the-waves-played-on-a-guitar/) [Dick Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-dale/) > [I think anybody who says they don't care about being liked is lying. I care if my dog waves its tail when I come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-gorman/i-think-anybody-who-says-they-don-t-care-about-being-liked-is-lying-i/) [James P. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-gorman/) > [If kisses were waves, I'd send you the rogue waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natessha-arne-tallo/if-kisses-were-waves-i-d-send-you-the-rogue-waves/) [Natessha Arne Tallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natessha-arne-tallo/) > [If the truth be told, we are a society that is dripping in racism. This is not in the least surprising. For the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/if-the-truth-be-told-we-are-a-society-that-is-dripping-in-racism-this/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [“I think love is kind of like those waves out there," she said. "You ride one in to the beach, and it's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-bauermeister/i-think-love-is-kind-of-like-those-waves-out-there-she-said-you-ride/) [Erica Bauermeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-bauermeister/) > [Life is just like a sea, we are moving without an end. Nothing stays with us, what remains is just the memories of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-just-like-a-sea-we-are-moving-without-an-end-nothing-stays/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 498 Waves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about being out there, the world narrowing to just the pounding of the waves as the water moved in and out.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Dessen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that-she-loved-about-being-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Waves" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that-she-loved-about-being-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/024/sarah-dessen-110_waves_maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that_2717663.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Maybe it was the absence of thought that she loved about being out there, the world narrowing to just the…” — Sarah Dessen", "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": "Sarah Dessen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Maybe it was the absence of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that-she-loved-about-being-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/maybe-it-was-the-absence-of-thought-that-she-loved-about-being-out/#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 } } ] } ```