--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I felt dumb and subdued. Every time I…" description: "\"I felt dumb and subdued. Every time I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/sylvia-plath-149_dumb_i-felt-dumb-and-subdued-every-time-i-tri_943600.jpg" --- # I felt dumb and subdued. Every time I tried to… ![“I felt dumb and subdued. Every time I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently.” quote by Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/sylvia-plath-149_dumb_i-felt-dumb-and-subdued-every-time-i-tri_943600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/sylvia-plath-149_dumb_i-felt-dumb-and-subdued-every-time-i-tri_943600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d7/sylvia-plath-149_dumb_i-felt-dumb-and-subdued-every-time-i-tri_943600.jpg) > “I felt dumb and subdued. Every time I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently.” [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Her mind drifts away when trying to focus, likened to a skater gliding into an empty space, indicating mental disengagement. **In simple terms:** Concentration feels like drifting away. Key Takeaway Practice grounding techniques. Themes focus mind wandering creativity Mood thoughtful quiet Type psychological practical When to use this quote - studying - writing - meditation Key Concepts cognitive psychology mindfulness distraction Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your mind to drift? - How can you anchor attention effectively? A Different Perspective Persistent distraction can hinder productivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concentrate Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentrate-mind-585720/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb Subdued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-subdued-1631375/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Empty space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-space/) [Felt Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-dumb-1631373/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Glided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-glided-1631376/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Skater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skater/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Tried Concentrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-concentrate-1631374/) ## Related quotes > [I had therefore, no hesitation in giving all the information I had, even though occasionally I tried to concentrate mainly on giving information about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-fuchs/i-had-therefore-no-hesitation-in-giving-all-the-information-i-had/) [Klaus Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-fuchs/) > [Deadlines concentrate the mind. 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Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/do-not-dwell-in-the-past-do-not-dream-of-the-future-concentrate-the/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [Concentrate the mind on the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/concentrate-the-mind-on-the-present-moment/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Your locus of attention is the single point on which you are able to concentrate your mind. You’re human and you can only focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-locus-of-attention-is-the-single-point-on-which-you-are-able-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You do miracles if you concentrate your mind on one thing and one thing only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/you-do-miracles-if-you-concentrate-your-mind-on-one-thing-and-one/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Do not dwell in the pass, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/do-not-dwell-in-the-pass-do-not-dream-of-the-future-concentrate-the/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“It is best not to dwell in the past,nor dream of the future.But it is better to concentrate the mind on the present moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacksin-taviri/it-is-best-not-to-dwell-in-the-past-nor-dream-of-the-future-but-it-is/) [jacksin taviri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacksin-taviri/) > [Once in his life a man ought to concentrate his mind upon the remembered earth. He ought to give himself up to a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-scott-momaday/once-in-his-life-a-man-ought-to-concentrate-his-mind-upon-the/) [N. Scott Momaday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-scott-momaday/) > [“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Robin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rbin/do-not-dwell-in-the-past-do-not-dream-of-the-future-concentrate-the-2/) [Rbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rbin/) ## More by Sylvia Plath > [“It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-was-a-queer-sultry-summer-the-summer-they-electrocuted-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I love life. But it is hard and I have so much, so very much to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-love-life-but-it-is-hard-and-i-have-so-much-so-very-much-to-learn/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [... These are my hands My knees. I may be skin and bone, Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman. ... --Lady Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/these-are-my-hands-my-knees-i-may-be-skin-and-bone-nevertheless-i-am/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. 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No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-saw-the-gooseflesh-on-my-skin-i-did-not-know-what-made-it-i-was-not/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I have to live my life, and it is the only one I’ll ever have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-to-live-my-life-and-it-is-the-only-one-i-ll-ever-have/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The city had faded my tan, though. I looked yellow as a Chinaman. Ordinarily, I would have been nervous about my dress and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/the-city-had-faded-my-tan-though-i-looked-yellow-as-a-chinaman/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [Joy:show joy & enjoy: then others will be joyful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/joy-show-joy-enjoy-then-others-will-be-joyful/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/a-million-years-of-evolution-eric-said-bitterly-and-what-are-we/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“I have stitched life into me like a rare organ --from "Three Women: A Poem for Three Voices", written 1962”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-have-stitched-life-into-me-like-a-rare-organ-from-three-women-a/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [It is so much safer not to feel, not to let the world touch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/it-is-so-much-safer-not-to-feel-not-to-let-the-world-touch-me/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Flute Notes from a Reedy Pond" Now coldness comes sifting down, layer after layer, To our bower at the lily root. Overhead the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/flute-notes-from-a-reedy-pond-now-coldness-comes-sifting-down-layer/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“The most saddening thing is to admit that I am not in love. 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I love the absurdity of it. I love the kind of intelligence that's required to be dumb in comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/i-love-comedy-i-love-the-absurdity-of-it-i-love-the-kind-of/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [Marilyn was a great actress, not a dumb blond bombshell. She was very smart, very astute and a good businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-schiller/marilyn-was-a-great-actress-not-a-dumb-blond-bombshell-she-was-very/) [Lawrence Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-schiller/) > [I'm a meathead. I can't help it, man. You've got smart people and you've got dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-m-a-meathead-i-can-t-help-it-man-you-ve-got-smart-people-and-you-ve/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [Me seeing how thick my callous is on my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-country/me-seeing-how-thick-my-callous-is-on-my-hand/) [Michael Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-country/) > [It is unfortunate to consider all lawyers as natural Satanists many are just dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-unfortunate-to-consider-all-lawyers-as-natural-satanists-many/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [I hate it when people come up to me on trains and ask 'Are you Soulja Boy?' 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