--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rather than attend to a world considered…" description: "\"Rather than attend to a world considered as if it's out there, I have to start to attend to me. That led to some things that I never wanted it to lead ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/vito-acconci-13895_autobiographical_rather-than-attend-to-a-world-considered_2770052.jpg" --- # Rather than attend to a world considered as if it's out… ![“Rather than attend to a world considered as if it's out there, I have to start to attend to me. That led to some things that I never wanted it to lead to, person as a sort of psychological miasma. I started to get wrapped up in self, and then, for the first time, self did become an…” quote by Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/vito-acconci-13895_autobiographical_rather-than-attend-to-a-world-considered_2770052.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/vito-acconci-13895_autobiographical_rather-than-attend-to-a-world-considered_2770052.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/vito-acconci-13895_autobiographical_rather-than-attend-to-a-world-considered_2770052.jpg) > “Rather than attend to a world considered as if it's out there, I have to start to attend to me. That led to some things that I never wanted it to lead to, person as a sort of psychological miasma. I started to get wrapped up in self, and then, for the first time, self did become an autobiographical self.” [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## 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 emphasizes turning inward, confronting one's own psyche, which can lead to unexpected, sometimes unsettling self‑discoveries. **In simple terms:** Looking inside yourself can reveal surprising, even uncomfortable truths. Key Takeaway Self‑reflection can uncover hidden aspects of identity. Themes self‑awareness psychology identity introspection growth Mood reflective introspective cautious Type philosophical motivational cautionary When to use this quote - therapy sessions - journaling - mindfulness meditation - creative workshops Key Concepts self‑concept autobiographical self psychological miasma Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself have you ignored? - How can you balance inner work with outer engagement? A Different Perspective Focusing too much on self may isolate one from external reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autobiographical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [My first book was called, 'Mountain, Get Out of My Way,' where I did an autobiographical sketch, if you will, looking back at myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/my-first-book-was-called-mountain-get-out-of-my-way-where-i-did-an/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [The autobiographical self has prompted extended memory, reasoning, imagination, creativity and language. And out of that came the instruments of culture - religions, justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/the-autobiographical-self-has-prompted-extended-memory-reasoning/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [Of necessity, the autobiographical self is not just about one individual but about all the others that an individual interacts with. Of necessity, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/of-necessity-the-autobiographical-self-is-not-just-about-one/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [The autobiographical self is built on the basis of past memories and memories of the plans that we have made; it's the lived past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/the-autobiographical-self-is-built-on-the-basis-of-past-memories-and/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [“Since then neuroscience research has shown that we possess two distinct forms of self-awareness: one that keeps track of the self across time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/since-then-neuroscience-research-has-shown-that-we-possess-two/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [“The autobiographical self (D’Amasio 2000) incorporates the reflective self and some of the emotional self, and it provides the sense of “I” having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hanson/the-autobiographical-self-d-amasio-2000-incorporates-the-reflective/) [Rick Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hanson/) > [Autobiographical comics, I love them. I love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/autobiographical-comics-i-love-them-i-love-them/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [I occasionally experience the discomfort of people assuming my work is autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-occasionally-experience-the-discomfort-of-people-assuming-my-work/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographical-stories-the-story-is/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [My books aren't autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/my-books-aren-t-autobiographical/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Attempting to express a person’s objective reality and subjective state of mind with the written word is an endless task because writing alters our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/attempting-to-express-a-person-s-objective-reality-and-subjective/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Because of the wonderfully positive response to 'Life's That Way,' I am considering writing some more autobiographical stuff - maybe another book. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/because-of-the-wonderfully-positive-response-to-life-s-that-way-i-am/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [Race as a subject only comes about because of what I look like. If I say something truthfully, people say "Oh, she's so angry."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-as-a-subject-only-comes-about-because-of-what-i-look-like-if-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I'm always saying that my books are not autobiographical because they're not. I can't choose any one scene and say, 'Oh, this is exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-von-ziegesar/i-m-always-saying-that-my-books-are-not-autobiographical-because-they/) [Cecily von Ziegesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-von-ziegesar/) > [“I am not and autobiographical writer--one can't be without a solid and explicable self--and read all autobiographical writers with the same curiosity. What kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiyun-li/i-am-not-and-autobiographical-writer-one-can-t-be-without-a-solid-and/) [Yiyun Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiyun-li/) ## More by Vito Acconci > [I like Richard Serra sculptures too but I wish they had a goddamn hot dog stand inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-like-richard-serra-sculptures-too-but-i-wish-they-had-a-goddamn-hot/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [It was an incredible way to grow up, because words that you're taught - these definite things - you realize they sort of beautifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/it-was-an-incredible-way-to-grow-up-because-words-that-you-re-taught/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Architecture is inherently a totalitarian activity. One thing we hate about it is that when you design a space, you're probably designing people's behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/architecture-is-inherently-a-totalitarian-activity-one-thing-we-hate/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [ \[Photography was necessary to\] make my place in the art-world: in order to do this, I had to make a picture, since a picture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/photography-was-necessary-to-make-my-place-in-the-art-world-in-order/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Especially once those poetry events began, because, yeah, the stuff was still on the page, but the page was starting to spill into real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/especially-once-those-poetry-events-began-because-yeah-the-stuff-was/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I became much more interested in plot when I really didn't consider myself a writer anymore. When I was in an art context and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-became-much-more-interested-in-plot-when-i-really-didn-t-consider/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [The kind of influence you want is a much deeper influence. It's like empowerment. Things are like this, but what if they were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/the-kind-of-influence-you-want-is-a-much-deeper-influence-it-s-like/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [If something's public then it seems like the important thing is the person in that public. And the notion of rhetoric. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/if-something-s-public-then-it-seems-like-the-important-thing-is-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Everybody uses labels: they give you a handle on things - an over-simplified handle, sure, but without labels, without ads, without words, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/everybody-uses-labels-they-give-you-a-handle-on-things-an-over/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. These photographic pieces were ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-ways-to-get-myself-off-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I came from the time of so-called New Criticism - the poem in itself, the writing in itself - but around that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-came-from-the-time-of-so-called-new-criticism-the-poem-in-itself/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [There's a legal term for a problem in public space: something that might draw people to an area-say, across train tracks-where they might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/there-s-a-legal-term-for-a-problem-in-public-space-something-that/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Public space can be a lot better with some private space to contradict it and vice versa. It keeps the system alive. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/public-space-can-be-a-lot-better-with-some-private-space-to/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [As a kid I learned notions of art and notions of not having any money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/as-a-kid-i-learned-notions-of-art-and-notions-of-not-having-any-money/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Maybe I had to stop photographing so that I could learn to touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/maybe-i-had-to-stop-photographing-so-that-i-could-learn-to-touch/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) [Explore all 48 Vito Acconci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## More Autobiographical quotes > [“I am not and autobiographical writer--one can't be without a solid and explicable self--and read all autobiographical writers with the same curiosity. What kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yiyun-li/i-am-not-and-autobiographical-writer-one-can-t-be-without-a-solid-and/) [Yiyun Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yiyun-li/) > [I'm always saying that my books are not autobiographical because they're not. I can't choose any one scene and say, 'Oh, this is exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-von-ziegesar/i-m-always-saying-that-my-books-are-not-autobiographical-because-they/) [Cecily von Ziegesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-von-ziegesar/) > [Race as a subject only comes about because of what I look like. If I say something truthfully, people say "Oh, she's so angry."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/race-as-a-subject-only-comes-about-because-of-what-i-look-like-if-i/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Of necessity, the autobiographical self is not just about one individual but about all the others that an individual interacts with. Of necessity, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/of-necessity-the-autobiographical-self-is-not-just-about-one/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [Because of the wonderfully positive response to 'Life's That Way,' I am considering writing some more autobiographical stuff - maybe another book. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/because-of-the-wonderfully-positive-response-to-life-s-that-way-i-am/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [I occasionally experience the discomfort of people assuming my work is autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/i-occasionally-experience-the-discomfort-of-people-assuming-my-work/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Autobiographical comics, I love them. I love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/autobiographical-comics-i-love-them-i-love-them/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [It's actually easier to do autobiographical stories. The story is already there. It's a matter of carving away what doesn't fit rather than building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-thompson/it-s-actually-easier-to-do-autobiographical-stories-the-story-is/) [Craig Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-thompson/) > [My books aren't autobiographical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/my-books-aren-t-autobiographical/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Attempting to express a person’s objective reality and subjective state of mind with the written word is an endless task because writing alters our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/attempting-to-express-a-person-s-objective-reality-and-subjective/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Memoir is actually the most egoless genre, even though it might seem ostensibly so much ego-driven. In order for it to succeed, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-flynn/memoir-is-actually-the-most-egoless-genre-even-though-it-might-seem/) [Nick Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-flynn/) > [I'm not an autobiographical writer, but I am a writer who deals with human emotion on all levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-an-autobiographical-writer-but-i-am-a-writer-who-deals-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“is a little remarkable, that—though disinclined to talk overmuch of myself and my affairs at the fireside, and to my personal friends—an autobiographical impulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/is-a-little-remarkable-that-though-disinclined-to-talk-overmuch-of/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [There certainly is no secret in that there are plenty of people who don't like plenty of my movies. Each one of my films…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/there-certainly-is-no-secret-in-that-there-are-plenty-of-people-who/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > ['Normal' is not clinical, it's not autobiographical, and I don't claim to be objective. It's strictly my perceptions and thoughts about the people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/normal-is-not-clinical-it-s-not-autobiographical-and-i-don-t-claim-to/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) [Browse all 202 Autobiographical quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autobiographical/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rather than attend to a world considered as if it's out there, I have to start to attend to me. That led to some things that I never wanted it to lead to, person as a sort of psychological miasma. 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