--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To begin with, I turn back time. I…" description: "\"To begin with, I turn back time. I reverse it to that quaint period, the thirties, when the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a8/tennessee-williams-745_alphabet_to-begin-with-i-turn-back-time-i-reverse_1195873.jpg" --- # To begin with, I turn back time. I reverse it to that… ![“To begin with, I turn back time. I reverse it to that quaint period, the thirties, when the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school for the blind. Their eyes had failed them, or they had failed their eyes, and so they were having their fingers pressed forcibly down on the fiery…” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a8/tennessee-williams-745_alphabet_to-begin-with-i-turn-back-time-i-reverse_1195873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a8/tennessee-williams-745_alphabet_to-begin-with-i-turn-back-time-i-reverse_1195873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a8/tennessee-williams-745_alphabet_to-begin-with-i-turn-back-time-i-reverse_1195873.jpg) > “To begin with, I turn back time. I reverse it to that quaint period, the thirties, when the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school for the blind. Their eyes had failed them, or they had failed their eyes, and so they were having their fingers pressed forcibly down on the fiery Braille alphabet of a dissolving economy.” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker imagines reversing history to a past era where blind people learn Braille amid economic decline, highlighting vulnerability and resilience. **In simple terms:** Imagining a past where blind people learn Braille in hard times. Key Takeaway Consider how past hardships shape present empathy. Themes history vulnerability resilience Mood melancholic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Historical reflection - economic analysis - social commentary Key Concepts Socioeconomic decline disability education Questions to Reflect On - How does nostalgia affect our view of hardship? - What can we learn from past struggles? A Different Perspective The metaphor may over‑simplify complex economic forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alphabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabet/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Braille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/braille/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turn back time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-back-time/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes last words can have the worst ending. I wish we could fast forward time and reverse feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/sometimes-last-words-can-have-the-worst-ending-i-wish-we-could-fast/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [YMCMB, rawest niggas doing it. School for the blind, I dont see these niggas doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/ymcmb-rawest-niggas-doing-it-school-for-the-blind-i-dont-see-these/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [When I studied in DPS Mathura Road in Delhi, there was a school for blind exactly opposite to our school. I used to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/when-i-studied-in-dps-mathura-road-in-delhi-there-was-a-school-for/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [I became involved in a residential school for the blind in Raleigh - the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-milsap/i-became-involved-in-a-residential-school-for-the-blind-in-raleigh/) [Ronnie Milsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-milsap/) > [Ignore, then, whether you are tall and thin or short and stocky- whether they laughed at you at home (where they are often unkind)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-cerutty/ignore-then-whether-you-are-tall-and-thin-or-short-and-stocky-whether/) [Percy Cerutty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-cerutty/) > [I think the reason my parents didn't like me is I was not a good-looking kid. My whole family was embarrassed, they didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-braver/i-think-the-reason-my-parents-didn-t-like-me-is-i-was-not-a-good/) Billy Braver > [I felt permanently exiled from 'normality.' Whether imposed by self or society, this outsider status - and not the disability itself - constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mairs/i-felt-permanently-exiled-from-normality-whether-imposed-by-self-or/) [Nancy Mairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mairs/) > [Effective use of Braille is as important to the blind as independent mobility, knowledge in the use of adaptive technology, and the core belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/effective-use-of-braille-is-as-important-to-the-blind-as-independent/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [Braille is knowledge, and knowledge is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-braille/braille-is-knowledge-and-knowledge-is-power/) Louis Braille > [So I was at the gas station the other day, and I saw that there was braille on the pumps. I don't see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/so-i-was-at-the-gas-station-the-other-day-and-i-saw-that-there-was/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [I once stole a pornographic book that was printed in braille. I used to rub the dirty parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-once-stole-a-pornographic-book-that-was-printed-in-braille-i-used/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Of course I read Braille, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/of-course-i-read-braille-yes/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [“If I had echolocation I could map out the terrain of ab muscles through sheer force of will. His cut body is meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-kent/if-i-had-echolocation-i-could-map-out-the-terrain-of-ab-muscles/) [Julia Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-kent/) > [Learning to read music in Braille and play by ear helped me develop a damn good memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/learning-to-read-music-in-braille-and-play-by-ear-helped-me-develop-a/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Alphabet quotes > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It s the letter I use to spell yuzz a ma tuzz. You ll be sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/my-alphabet-starts-with-this-letter-called-yuzz-it-s-the-letter-i-use/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [I cannot find it in me to fear a man who took ten years a learning of his alphabet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-cannot-find-it-in-me-to-fear-a-man-who-took-ten-years-a-learning-of/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Why' is the only question that bothers people enough to have an entire letter of the alphabet named after it. The alphabet does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/why-is-the-only-question-that-bothers-people-enough-to-have-an-entire/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I used to have a little saying I used when people said, 'What are your priorities?' I'd give them a bit of government alphabet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/i-used-to-have-a-little-saying-i-used-when-people-said-what-are-your/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [All I want is that Americans still be able to read the alphabet in a hundred years. I am not very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/all-i-want-is-that-americans-still-be-able-to-read-the-alphabet-in-a/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [The visual power of the phonetic alphabet is the translate other languages into itself is part of its power to invade right hemisphere (oral)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/the-visual-power-of-the-phonetic-alphabet-is-the-translate-other/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [Architecture is the alphabet of giants; it is the largest set of symbols ever made to meet the eyes of men. A tower stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/architecture-is-the-alphabet-of-giants-it-is-the-largest-set-of/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet, ... The White T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-t-shirt-as-the-alpha-and-omega-of-the/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) > [Alphabetical order had to be invented to help people organize the first dictionaries. On the other hand, we may have reached a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/alphabetical-order-had-to-be-invented-to-help-people-organize-the/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [One who has not only the four Ss, which are required in every good lover, but even the whole alphabet. as for example¦ Agreeable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/one-who-has-not-only-the-four-ss-which-are-required-in-every-good/) [Miguel De Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [New York doesn't exactly have neighborhoods, the way most cities do. What it has is closer to distinct and separate villages, some of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/new-york-doesn-t-exactly-have-neighborhoods-the-way-most-cities-do/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) [Browse all 336 Alphabet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To begin with, I turn back time. I reverse it to that quaint period, the thirties, when the huge middle class of America was matriculating in a school for the blind. 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