--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel myself shriveling along with my…" description: "\"I feel myself shriveling along with my world, getting smaller and harder. I'm turning into a rock, and in some ways that's good, because rocks last for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_feel_i-feel-myself-shriveling-along-with-my-w_1541525.jpg" --- # I feel myself shriveling along with my world, getting… ![“I feel myself shriveling along with my world, getting smaller and harder. I'm turning into a rock, and in some ways that's good, because rocks last forever. But if this is how I'm going to last forever, then I don't want to.” quote by Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_feel_i-feel-myself-shriveling-along-with-my-w_1541525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_feel_i-feel-myself-shriveling-along-with-my-w_1541525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_feel_i-feel-myself-shriveling-along-with-my-w_1541525.jpg) > “I feel myself shriveling along with my world, getting smaller and harder. I'm turning into a rock, and in some ways that's good, because rocks last forever. But if this is how I'm going to last forever, then I don't want to.” [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling trapped and hardened, like a rock, which offers permanence but lacks vitality. **In simple terms:** Becoming rigid for longevity is undesirable. Key Takeaway Seek flexibility over static permanence. Themes identity change longevity Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - health decisions Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself feel “rock‑like”? - How can you stay adaptable? A Different Perspective Stagnation can lead to loss of purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Shriveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-shriveling-5742860/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Getting Smaller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-smaller-232673/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Last forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-forever/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Shriveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shriveling-5742862/) [Shriveling World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shriveling-world-5742861/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [What are the height of men who are getting smaller day by day / the Thysis and Research, may be subject to both virgin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/what-are-the-height-of-men-who-are-getting-smaller-day-by-day-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Technology is getting smaller, faster, cheaper, and more powerful every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tae-yoo/technology-is-getting-smaller-faster-cheaper-and-more-powerful-every/) [Tae Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tae-yoo/) > [There is something demoralizing about watching two people get more and more crazy about each other, especially when you are the only extra person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/there-is-something-demoralizing-about-watching-two-people-get-more-2/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Plays are getting smaller and smaller, not because playwrights minds are shrinking but because of the economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/plays-are-getting-smaller-and-smaller-not-because-playwrights-minds/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [“It's like watching paris from an express caboose heading in the opposite direction - every second the city gets smaller and smaller, only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-s-like-watching-paris-from-an-express-caboose-heading-in-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [By getting to smaller and smaller units, we do not come to fundamental or indivisible units. But we do come to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-heisenberg/by-getting-to-smaller-and-smaller-units-we-do-not-come-to-fundamental/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-heisenberg/) > [To stop for years and then discover that the audience is getting smaller and smaller would be demoralizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-taylor/to-stop-for-years-and-then-discover-that-the-audience-is-getting/) [Alexis Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-taylor/) > [The sickness of our times for me has been just this damn thing that everything has been getting smaller and smaller and less and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/the-sickness-of-our-times-for-me-has-been-just-this-damn-thing-that/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [The world is getting smaller thanks to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/the-world-is-getting-smaller-thanks-to-technology/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [When you finally find the courage to admit you have a problem, that's when you have some power over it. That's the first step.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-montgomery/when-you-finally-find-the-courage-to-admit-you-have-a-problem-that-s/) [Ryan Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-montgomery/) > [If you see me getting smaller, I'm leaving, don't be grieving, just gotta get away from here. If you see me getting smaller, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/if-you-see-me-getting-smaller-i-m-leaving-don-t-be-grieving-just/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [Consider getting smaller in order to get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/consider-getting-smaller-in-order-to-get-bigger/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [A lot of shows start at one place, and then each episode is like a new little circle, often getting smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmi-simpson/a-lot-of-shows-start-at-one-place-and-then-each-episode-is-like-a-new/) [Jimmi Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmi-simpson/) > [Marriage is like a series of opposing reflections, inverse images getting ever smaller like nesting dolls, each one of your trying to squeeze yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/marriage-is-like-a-series-of-opposing-reflections-inverse-images/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Be really good with budgets because they keep getting smaller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-atwood/be-really-good-with-budgets-because-they-keep-getting-smaller/) [Colleen Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-atwood/) ## More by Susan Beth Pfeffer > [“I never really thought about how when I look at the moon it’s the same moon Shakespeare and Marie Antoinette and George Washington and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-never-really-thought-about-how-when-i-look-at-the-moon-it-s-the/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Great, the worlds coming to an end and we're fixing it with Band-Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/great-the-worlds-coming-to-an-end-and-we-re-fixing-it-with-band-aids/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Maybe I'm wrong," Mom said. "Maybe the world really is coming to an end." "Should I try Fox News?" I asked. Mom shuddered. "We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/maybe-i-m-wrong-mom-said-maybe-the-world-really-is-coming-to-an-end/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“This past year I grew up to know hunger, grief, darkness, fear. I began to understand how lonely you can feel even when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/this-past-year-i-grew-up-to-know-hunger-grief-darkness-fear-i-began/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [But it's our curse and our blessing to remember the past and to know there's a future. —Charlie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/but-it-s-our-curse-and-our-blessing-to-remember-the-past-and-to-know/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Nothing good happened to Romeo or Juliet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/nothing-good-happened-to-romeo-or-juliet/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Matt looked up kids from his high school class. Only three were listed as dead, but a bunch were listed as missing/presumed dead. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/matt-looked-up-kids-from-his-high-school-class-only-three-were-listed/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Even the rats are drowning,' Alex said. Nah,' Kevin said. 'They've been taking swimming lessons at the Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/even-the-rats-are-drowning-alex-said-nah-kevin-said-they-ve-been/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [What about desserts?" I asked. "If the world comes to an end, I'm going to want cookies." "We're all going to want cookies if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/what-about-desserts-i-asked-if-the-world-comes-to-an-end-i-m-going-to/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“It’s amazing. I never used to like red cabbage, but now when I get only a teaspoon of it, it’s all I can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/it-s-amazing-i-never-used-to-like-red-cabbage-but-now-when-i-get-only/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [I wonder if I'll ever have to decide which is worse, life as we're living or no life at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-wonder-if-i-ll-ever-have-to-decide-which-is-worse-life-as-we-re/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“I wondered how many people had sung "By the dawn's early light' yesterday and were dead today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-wondered-how-many-people-had-sung-by-the-dawn-s-early-light/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Sometimes the rules don't work. Sometimes the rules cause the anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/sometimes-the-rules-don-t-work-sometimes-the-rules-cause-the-anarchy/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“Every day when I go to sleep I think what a jerk I was to have felt sorry for myself the day before. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/every-day-when-i-go-to-sleep-i-think-what-a-jerk-i-was-to-have-felt/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [...when I came back, I found Mom sobbing at the kitchen table...Then I asked her what had happened. 'Nothing,'she said. 'I was thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/when-i-came-back-i-found-mom-sobbing-at-the-kitchen-table-then-i/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) [Explore all 71 Susan Beth Pfeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) ## More Feel quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I don't know how people feel,that's the beauty of TV, is they can see us, but we can't see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-don-t-know-how-people-feel-that-s-the-beauty-of-tv-is-they-can-see/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) [Browse all 26,675 Feel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel myself shriveling along with my world, getting smaller and harder. 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