--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was in a maze. No matter which way I…" description: "\"I was in a maze. No matter which way I turned, it was the wrong way.\" — Umberto Eco" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/umberto-eco-313_matter_i-was-in-a-maze-no-matter-which-way-i-tu_1763116.jpg" --- # I was in a maze. No matter which way I turned, it was the… ![“I was in a maze. No matter which way I turned, it was the wrong way.” quote by Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/umberto-eco-313_matter_i-was-in-a-maze-no-matter-which-way-i-tu_1763116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/umberto-eco-313_matter_i-was-in-a-maze-no-matter-which-way-i-tu_1763116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/umberto-eco-313_matter_i-was-in-a-maze-no-matter-which-way-i-tu_1763116.jpg) > “I was in a maze. No matter which way I turned, it was the wrong way.” [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Navigating a maze feels like making wrong choices despite effort. **In simple terms:** Feels stuck despite trying. Key Takeaway Seek new perspectives to find direction. Themes confusion decision‑making uncertainty Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship issues - creative projects Key Concepts existentialism problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What alternative paths have you ignored? - How can you reframe perceived failures? A Different Perspective Sometimes all options seem equally flawed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Maze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maze/) [Mazes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mazes/) ## Related quotes > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [I know no other way out of what is both the maze of the eternal present and the prison of the self except with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/i-know-no-other-way-out-of-what-is-both-the-maze-of-the-eternal/) [Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) > [Redd laughed. "The lovely thing about being here," she said, gesturing at the maze, "is that I'm able to immagine your imagination powerless. Ah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/redd-laughed-the-lovely-thing-about-being-here-she-said-gesturing-at/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) > [There is no route out of the maze. The maze shifts as you move through it, because it is alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/there-is-no-route-out-of-the-maze-the-maze-shifts-as-you-move-through/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The Cloud Maze. “ An Excursion in Dimension A Climb Though the Firmament; There Is No Beginning There Is No End Enter Where You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-cloud-maze-an-excursion-in-dimension-a-climb-though-the-firmament/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [A man's dreams are a maze even he cannot know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/a-man-s-dreams-are-a-maze-even-he-cannot-know/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [You're this rat in the American maze, working your way towards the cheese, which is a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/you-re-this-rat-in-the-american-maze-working-your-way-towards-the/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [I'm sort of like a rat in a maze - I'm moving forward, and any choice I make at the time seems like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/i-m-sort-of-like-a-rat-in-a-maze-i-m-moving-forward-and-any-choice-i/) [Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/) > [Think of lab rats racing through a maze, when you watch the sub-intelligent, dual-panel 'dialogue' conducted on the teli. Each rat runs with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/think-of-lab-rats-racing-through-a-maze-when-you-watch-the-sub/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [At some point we all look up and realize we are lost in a maze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/at-some-point-we-all-look-up-and-realize-we-are-lost-in-a-maze/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [ I felt really comfortable \[on The Maze Runner\]. From day one, I loved the script and the story, and I thought it could be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-o-brien/i-felt-really-comfortable-on-the-maze-runner-from-day-one-i-loved-the/) [Dylan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-o-brien/) > [Life is a maze of doors and they all open from the side you're on. Just keep on pushing hard boy, try as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/life-is-a-maze-of-doors-and-they-all-open-from-the-side-you-re-on/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [There are so many things hinted at that will be fun to reveal in depth. For years, fans have made it abundantly and enthusiastically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/there-are-so-many-things-hinted-at-that-will-be-fun-to-reveal-in/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [There are myriad government programs out there to help small businesses. Few people use them effectively. The maze of information makes it difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sher-valenzuela/there-are-myriad-government-programs-out-there-to-help-small/) [Sher Valenzuela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sher-valenzuela/) ## More by Umberto Eco > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [Followers of the occult believe in only what they already know, and in those things that confirm what they have already learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/followers-of-the-occult-believe-in-only-what-they-already-know-and-in/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“This has nothing to do with realism (even if it explains also realism). A completely real world can be constructed, in which asses fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/this-has-nothing-to-do-with-realism-even-if-it-explains-also-realism/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“…there’s nothing in this world that demands more caution than the truth. To tell the truth is like leeching one’s own heart...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-s-nothing-in-this-world-that-demands-more-caution-than-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. 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Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [They say that a cat, if it falls from a window and hits its nose, can lose its sense of smell and then, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/they-say-that-a-cat-if-it-falls-from-a-window-and-hits-its-nose-can/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are magic moments, involving great physical fatigue and intense motor excitement, that produce visions of people known in the past. As I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-magic-moments-involving-great-physical-fatigue-and-intense/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [All poets write bad poetry. Bad poets publish them, good poets burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/all-poets-write-bad-poetry-bad-poets-publish-them-good-poets-burn-them/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) [Explore all 600 Umberto Eco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More Matter quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [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/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [No matter what I do I'll always be stuck on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-stalin/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ll-always-be-stuck-on-you/) [J Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-stalin/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) Browse all 23,868 Matter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was in a maze. 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