Birth Quote by Susan Sontag
““How far from the beginning are we? When did we first start to feel the wound? … This staunchless wound, the great longing for another place. To make this place another.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On Photography” by Susan Sontag, 1977
The quote reflects on humanity’s perpetual sense of incompleteness and yearning for an imagined elsewhere, suggesting that our identity is shaped by what we lack.
In simple terms: We always feel something is missing and desire a different place.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and explore the longing that drives you.
Themes
identity
longing
place
existence
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- creative projects
- travel planning
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
nostalgia
displacement
search for meaning
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “other place” represent for you?
- How can this longing be channeled productively?
A Different Perspective
The yearning may be idealized, overlooking the value of present circumstances.
![“[Amy Carmichael's] great longing was to have a "single eye" for the glory of God. Whatever might blur the vision God had give her of His work, whatever could distract or deceive or tempt other to seek anything but the Lord Jesus Himself she tried to eliminate.” quote by Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/404/elisabeth-elliot-1209_amy_amy-carmichael-s-great-longing-was-to-ha_1010895.jpg)
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
