Fear Quote by Sarah Winman
““For I knew already that something had taken me from me, and had replaced it with a desperate longing for a time before; a time before fear; a time before shame. And now that knowledge had a voice that rose from the depths of my years and howled into the night sky like a wounded animal longing for home.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab, 2020
The narrator feels a profound loss of self, replaced by yearning for a simpler, fearless past, and this yearning becomes a painful, animalistic cry for belonging.
In simple terms: Loss of self replaced by longing for a past without fear or shame.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the present and heal old wounds.
Themes
identity
longing
nostalgia
fear
shame
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
existential yearning
psychological trauma
self‑discovery
Questions to Reflect On
- What does your “time before” represent?
- How can you honor that longing without staying stuck?
A Different Perspective
The longing may romanticize the past, ignoring present possibilities.
![“[My mum] was always like that: grateful for life itself. Her glass was not only half full, it was gold plated with a permanent refill.” quote by Sarah Winman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/379/sarah-winman-10153_grateful_my-mum-was-always-like-that-grateful-for_458797.jpg)
