Absorbed Quote by Vivian Gornick
““And I—the girl growing in their midst, being made in their image—I absorbed them as I would chloroform on a cloth laid against my face. It has taken me thirty years to understand how much of them I understood.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lonely City, Vivian Gornick, 2010
She describes how she internalized the attitudes of those around her, absorbing them unconsciously over decades.
In simple terms: She absorbed others' attitudes like a drug.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question the influences you have absorbed.
Themes
identity
influence
self‑awareness
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
personal
psychological
When to use this quote
- family dynamics
- workplace culture
- friendship circles
- media consumption
Key Concepts
social conditioning
psychology
personal growth
Questions to Reflect On
- What attitudes have you adopted without realizing?
- How can you differentiate your own values from those absorbed?
A Different Perspective
Absorbing influences can limit authentic self‑development.
