--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think about all that we've lost that has…" description: "\"Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally because nobody was taking it down. I feel very fortunate to live in a time where we have so m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg" --- # Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally… ![“Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally because nobody was taking it down. I feel very fortunate to live in a time where we have so many different voices. We have a much richer literature than we've ever had, and we can know America so much better.” quote by Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg) > “Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally because nobody was taking it down. I feel very fortunate to live in a time where we have so many different voices. We have a much richer literature than we've ever had, and we can know America so much better.” [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Oral histories are disappearing, but modern recording preserves diverse voices, enriching literature and understanding of America. **In simple terms:** Oral stories fade; modern media capture many voices. Key Takeaway Preserve and share oral histories. Themes history media diversity memory Mood hopeful urgent Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - documentary projects - community storytelling - educational curricula Key Concepts cultural preservation technological archiving Questions to Reflect On - What stories are still at risk of being lost? - How can we ensure equitable representation in archives? A Different Perspective Technology may prioritize popular voices over marginalized ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Different voices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-voices/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [The more I know about America, the better I'll be at performing American characters and American stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/the-more-i-know-about-america-the-better-i-ll-be-at-performing/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/intellectually-i-know-that-america-is-no-better-than-any-other/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [When you say that I can go and make a movie, I feel like I'm one of the most fortunate men. I feel myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/when-you-say-that-i-can-go-and-make-a-movie-i-feel-like-i-m-one-of/) [Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/) > [I just feel fortunate to be able to play as long as I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-just-feel-fortunate-to-be-able-to-play-as-long-as-i-have/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [Like many actors, I'm very grateful, I feel very fortunate, very lucky to be able to make a living with what I do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-henry/like-many-actors-i-m-very-grateful-i-feel-very-fortunate-very-lucky/) Gregg Henry > [Mainly, I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pawel-szajda/mainly-i-feel-very-fortunate-to-be-able-to-do-what-i-love/) [Pawel Szajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pawel-szajda/) > [You know I feel very fortunate that my life has turned out the way that it has - whatever that means - I mean...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-platt/you-know-i-feel-very-fortunate-that-my-life-has-turned-out-the-way/) [Oliver Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-platt/) > [I do feel fortunate to have some great options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megyn-kelly/i-do-feel-fortunate-to-have-some-great-options/) [Megyn Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megyn-kelly/) > [I feel so fortunate, Because some people think, well you're just relegated to the sideline. But I feel valued there. They trust me. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-tafoya/i-feel-so-fortunate-because-some-people-think-well-you-re-just/) Michele Tafoya > [I like to try to give something back to the community because I feel fortunate for how I was raised and how my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-joseph/i-like-to-try-to-give-something-back-to-the-community-because-i-feel/) [Curtis Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-joseph/) > [You don't think about it that often, but you don't realize how many of your friends have come and gone. It makes you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-mcnevan/you-don-t-think-about-it-that-often-but-you-don-t-realize-how-many-of/) [Trevor McNevan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-mcnevan/) > [I feel very, very fortunate to have the success that I've had. I want to keep working and keep moving forward. Acting is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-spiridakos/i-feel-very-very-fortunate-to-have-the-success-that-i-ve-had-i-want/) [Tracy Spiridakos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-spiridakos/) > [I feel that I have been very fortunate and had the opportunity to play some wonderful roles and movies and worked with some great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-feel-that-i-have-been-very-fortunate-and-had-the-opportunity-to/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [I feel like I've gotten more than a lot of people will ever get. I feel very fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-feel-like-i-ve-gotten-more-than-a-lot-of-people-will-ever-get-i/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I feel like I've got the best job in the world. I just feel so fortunate to get paid to be a kid and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-feel-like-i-ve-got-the-best-job-in-the-world-i-just-feel-so/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) ## More by Tillie Olsen > [More than in any other human relationship, overwhelmingly more, motherhood means being instantly interruptible, responsive, and responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/more-than-in-any-other-human-relationship-overwhelmingly-more/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [“Mazie sits with a sense of non-being over her – of it being someone other than she sitting there timeless, suspended in a dusky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/mazie-sits-with-a-sense-of-non-being-over-her-of-it-being-someone/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [I don't want to die leaving the world as it is right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/i-don-t-want-to-die-leaving-the-world-as-it-is-right-now/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Literary history and the present are dark with silences . . . I have had special need to learn all I could of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/literary-history-and-the-present-are-dark-with-silences-i-have-had/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [She would not exchange her solitude for anything. Never again to be forced to move to the rhythms of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/she-would-not-exchange-her-solitude-for-anything-never-again-to-be/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Not to have an audience is a kind of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/not-to-have-an-audience-is-a-kind-of-death/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [That's what I want to be when I grow up, just a peaceful wreck holding hands with other peaceful wrecks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/that-s-what-i-want-to-be-when-i-grow-up-just-a-peaceful-wreck-holding/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [“She kept too much in herself. Her life was such that she had to keep too much in herself. My wisdom came too late.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/she-kept-too-much-in-herself-her-life-was-such-that-she-had-to-keep/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [There are worse words than cuss-words, there are words that hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/there-are-worse-words-than-cuss-words-there-are-words-that-hurt/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Literature is a place for generosity and affection and hunger for equals - not a prizefight ring. We are increased, confirmed in our medium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/literature-is-a-place-for-generosity-and-affection-and-hunger-for/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Better mankind born without mouths and stomachs than always to worry about money to buy, to shop, to fix, to cook, to wash, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/better-mankind-born-without-mouths-and-stomachs-than-always-to-worry/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Writers in a profit making economy are an exploitable commodity whose works are products to be marketed, and are so judged and handled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/writers-in-a-profit-making-economy-are-an-exploitable-commodity-whose/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [I know that I haven’t powers enough to divide myself into one who earns and one who creates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/i-know-that-i-haven-t-powers-enough-to-divide-myself-into-one-who/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Every woman who writes is a survivor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/every-woman-who-writes-is-a-survivor/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) > [Lighting does occasionally strike and occasional the result isn't a corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/lighting-does-occasionally-strike-and-occasional-the-result-isn-t-a/) [Tillie Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) [Explore all 36 Tillie Olsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“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/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally because nobody was taking it down. I feel very fortunate to live in a time where we have so many different voices. We have a much richer literature than we've ever had, and we can know America so much better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tillie Olsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has-been-said-orally-because/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has-been-said-orally-because/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/tillie-olsen-18007_america_think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has_945750.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Think about all that we've lost that has been said orally because nobody was taking it down. I feel very…” — Tillie Olsen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tillie Olsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-olsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Think about all that we've lost...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has-been-said-orally-because/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-olsen/think-about-all-that-we-ve-lost-that-has-been-said-orally-because/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```