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Who ARE You?" This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.
Lewis Carroll
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects the complexity of personal identity and the fluidity of self-perception.

In this passage from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', Alice expresses the confusion many experience regarding their own identity. She acknowledges that while she can recognize her past self, the experiences of the day have altered her sense of self, highlighting the transient nature of identity and the impact of life’s events on who we perceive ourselves to be.

Themes

IdentityChangeSelf-AwarenessPhilosophySelf-Perception

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on personal growth, one might say, 'As Alice remarked, I think I must have been changed several times since then.'

More from Lewis Carroll

The further off from England the nearer is to France-_x000D_ _x000D_ Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
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So she was considering in her own mind...whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up & picking the daisies.
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Once she remembered trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious child was very fond of pretending to be two people.
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Rule Forty-two. All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.
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Crawling at your feet,' said the Gnat (Alice drew her feet back in some alarm), `you may observe a Bread-and-Butterfly. Its wings are thin slices of Bread-and-butter, its body is a crust, and its head is a lump of sugar.' And what does IT live on?' Weak tea with cream in it.' A new difficulty came into Alice's head. `Supposing it couldn't find any?' she suggested. Then it would die, of course.' But that must happen very often,' Alice remarked thoughtfully. It always happens,' said the Gnat.
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