--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s very expressive of myself. I just…" description: "\"“It’s very expressive of myself. I just lump everything into a great heap which I have labelled “the past” and, having thus emptied this deep reservoir..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/zelda-fitzgerald-4660_late-afternoon_it-s-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lu_737190.jpg" --- # It’s very expressive of myself. I just lump everything… ![“It’s very expressive of myself. I just lump everything into a great heap which I have labelled “the past” and, having thus emptied this deep reservoir that was once myself, I am ready to continue.’ They sat together in the pleasant gloom of late afternoon, staring at each other through the remains…” quote by Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/zelda-fitzgerald-4660_late-afternoon_it-s-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lu_737190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/zelda-fitzgerald-4660_late-afternoon_it-s-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lu_737190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/zelda-fitzgerald-4660_late-afternoon_it-s-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lu_737190.jpg) > ““It’s very expressive of myself. I just lump everything into a great heap which I have labelled “the past” and, having thus emptied this deep reservoir that was once myself, I am ready to continue.’ They sat together in the pleasant gloom of late afternoon, staring at each other through the remains of the party; the silver glasses, the silver tray, the traces of many perfumes; they sat together watching the twilight flow through the calm living room that they were leaving like the clear cold current of a trout stream.”” [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) ## 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 empties personal memories, labeling them as “the past,” to free themselves for new experiences. **In simple terms:** Letting go of past lets you move forward. Key Takeaway Release old memories, embrace the present. Themes memory release renewal Mood nostalgic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - emotional healing - moving on Key Concepts identity psychology literary narrative Questions to Reflect On - What parts of your past still serve you? - How can you honor memories while moving forward? A Different Perspective Letting go may cause loss of valuable lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-room/) ## Related quotes > [Emptying the ashtrays was very expressive of myself. i just lump everything in a great heap which i have labeled ‘the past,’ and having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/emptying-the-ashtrays-was-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lump/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [It's very expressive of myself. I just lump everything in a great heap which I have labeled the past, and, having thus emptied this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-very-expressive-of-myself-i-just-lump-everything-in-a-great-heap/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Neither of these staring experiences was erotic for me, but they may have been for the two young men who did the staring. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/neither-of-these-staring-experiences-was-erotic-for-me-but-they-may/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [When time is reduced to linear progress, it is emptied of presence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-donohue/when-time-is-reduced-to-linear-progress-it-is-emptied-of-presence/) [John O'Donohue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-donohue/) > [“The truth is that the forms I see have been slowly emptied out. They no longer have any content. They are shapes only. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-truth-is-that-the-forms-i-see-have-been-slowly-emptied-out-they/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [First, I emptied the closets of your clothes, threw out the bowl of fruit, bruised from your touch, left empty the jars you bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/first-i-emptied-the-closets-of-your-clothes-threw-out-the-bowl-of/) [Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/) > [“My friends and dear ones are in search for me in me, Except your name I have emptied myself from everything!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiyaz-uddin/my-friends-and-dear-ones-are-in-search-for-me-in-me-except-your-name/) [Aiyaz Uddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiyaz-uddin/) > [“The mark of a truly successful life is that at the time of your death, you should have emptied yourself and used up all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-ogedegbe/the-mark-of-a-truly-successful-life-is-that-at-the-time-of-your-death-3/) [CLEMENT OGEDEGBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-ogedegbe/) > [“Another life-lesson: until our minds are emptied, how will we receive?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-shourie/another-life-lesson-until-our-minds-are-emptied-how-will-we-receive/) [Arun Shourie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-shourie/) > [“The mark of a truly successful life is that at the time of your death, you should have emptied yourself and used up all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-ogedegbe/the-mark-of-a-truly-successful-life-is-that-at-the-time-of-your-death-2/) [CLEMENT OGEDEGBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-ogedegbe/) > [“He had emptied the bright goblet of romance; at a single gulp he had emptied it. The glass of it lay scattered on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mervyn-peake/he-had-emptied-the-bright-goblet-of-romance-at-a-single-gulp-he-had/) [Mervyn Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mervyn-peake/) > [“The mark of a truly successful life is that at the time of your death, you should have emptied yourself and used up all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-ogedegbe/the-mark-of-a-truly-successful-life-is-that-at-the-time-of-your-death/) [CLEMENT OGEDEGBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-ogedegbe/) > [“I felt emptied-out and singing with echoes, unrecognizable to myself: that particular feeling like your own house on the day you move out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-felt-emptied-out-and-singing-with-echoes-unrecognizable-to-myself/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“He emptied all his handheld video games and Josh’s remote control cars, and called his grandma to tell her that all he wanted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-emptied-all-his-handheld-video-games-and-josh-s-remote-control/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“she has suddenly emptied herself of me, and all other consciousness in the world has also emptied itself of me. It seems funny. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/she-has-suddenly-emptied-herself-of-me-and-all-other-consciousness-in/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## More by Zelda Fitzgerald > [A vacuum can only exist, I imagine, by the things which enclose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/a-vacuum-can-only-exist-i-imagine-by-the-things-which-enclose-it/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [Death is the only real elegance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/death-is-the-only-real-elegance/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“Goodnight dear. If you were in my bed it might be the back of your head I was touching, where the hair is short,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/goodnight-dear-if-you-were-in-my-bed-it-might-be-the-back-of-your/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [I play the radio and moon about...and dream of Utopias where its always July the 24th 1935, in the middle of summer forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/i-play-the-radio-and-moon-about-and-dream-of-utopias-where-its-always/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [All I want to be is very young always and very irresponsible and to feel that my life is my own-to live and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/all-i-want-to-be-is-very-young-always-and-very-irresponsible-and-to/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [I suppose all we can really share with people is a taste for the same kinds of weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/i-suppose-all-we-can-really-share-with-people-is-a-taste-for-the-same/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [Millie Beggs, by the time she was forty-five, had become an emotional anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/millie-beggs-by-the-time-she-was-forty-five-had-become-an-emotional/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [To a woman in love, loving too much is not loving enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/to-a-woman-in-love-loving-too-much-is-not-loving-enough/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“Everybody gives you belief for the asking,” she said to David, “and so few people give you anything more to believe in than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/everybody-gives-you-belief-for-the-asking-she-said-to-david-and-so/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“We couldn't go on indefinitely being swept off our feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/we-couldn-t-go-on-indefinitely-being-swept-off-our-feet/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [memories should be sharp when one has nothing else to live for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/memories-should-be-sharp-when-one-has-nothing-else-to-live-for/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [It is the loose ends with which men hang themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/it-is-the-loose-ends-with-which-men-hang-themselves/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [“I love you anyway-even if there isn't any me or any love or even any life- I love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/i-love-you-anyway-even-if-there-isn-t-any-me-or-any-love-or-even-any/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [Look closer and you'll see something extraordinary, mystifying, something real and true. We have never been what we seemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/look-closer-and-you-ll-see-something-extraordinary-mystifying/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) > [I can't read or sleep. Without hope or youth or money I sit constantly wishing I were dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelda-fitzgerald/i-can-t-read-or-sleep-without-hope-or-youth-or-money-i-sit-constantly/) [Zelda Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 107 Zelda Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelda-fitzgerald/) ## More Late afternoon quotes > [“The whole idea of it makes me feel Like I’m coming down with something, Something worse than any stomach ache Or the headaches I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/the-whole-idea-of-it-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-coming-down-with/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [Imagine you are walking down a leafy path…The sun is receding, and you are walking alone, caressed by the breezy light of the late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/imagine-you-are-walking-down-a-leafy-path-the-sun-is-receding-and-you/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [“Raw Living: Picking blackberries, beneath late afternoon sun; a sunset reminiscent of watermelon sangria, as the scent of honeysuckle accosts me and the ducks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-l-bates/raw-living-picking-blackberries-beneath-late-afternoon-sun-a-sunset/) [Brandi L. Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-l-bates/) > [“There was no movement around the discoloured walls, and Lucy turned the Land Rover about in a slow crawl, the tires crunching on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-swallow/there-was-no-movement-around-the-discoloured-walls-and-lucy-turned/) [James Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-swallow/) > [“Late afternoon arrives, and I’m still unshowered and in my robe. The feel and smell and taste of Esben are all over me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/late-afternoon-arrives-and-i-m-still-unshowered-and-in-my-robe-the/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [It's of being alone with my dad. He drove a truck for a living. But he had a few free hours in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/it-s-of-being-alone-with-my-dad-he-drove-a-truck-for-a-living-but-he/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [I'm so alive. As I stand facing the beauty of the never-ending Pacific Ocean, a late afternoon breeze blows down from the hills behind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/i-m-so-alive-as-i-stand-facing-the-beauty-of-the-never-ending-pacific/) [Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/) > [“The heat of late afternoon closed in around us like an animate thing; you could feel it on your skin, warm and moist, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/the-heat-of-late-afternoon-closed-in-around-us-like-an-animate-thing/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [“He was almost a poet in his old age and his notion of what happened took a poetic turn. 'I had come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwood-anderson/he-was-almost-a-poet-in-his-old-age-and-his-notion-of-what-happened/) [Sherwood Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwood-anderson/) > [“Surely the colour of London was an exquisite thing. It was like a pearl that late afternoon, something very gentle and pale, with faint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/surely-the-colour-of-london-was-an-exquisite-thing-it-was-like-a/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“To whom it may concern: It is springtime. It is late afternoon. -Mr. Vonnegut”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/to-whom-it-may-concern-it-is-springtime-it-is-late-afternoon-mr/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I went to see a children's matinee at the movie theatre one summer, but at some point they had changed to the grown up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-went-to-see-a-children-s-matinee-at-the-movie-theatre-one-summer/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [“It is late afternoon, there is neither wind nor breeze nor whiff of air, you can feel the air on your skin as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-is-late-afternoon-there-is-neither-wind-nor-breeze-nor-whiff-of/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Photography is all about capturing a mood, a feeling. I feel a special connection with nature, often very powerful. This late afternoon was phenomenal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lik/photography-is-all-about-capturing-a-mood-a-feeling-i-feel-a-special/) Peter Lik > [“Norman Bates heard the noise and a shock went through him. It sounded as though somebody was tapping on the windowpane. He looked up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bloch/norman-bates-heard-the-noise-and-a-shock-went-through-him-it-sounded/) [Robert Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bloch/) Browse all 135 Late afternoon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s very expressive of myself. 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