Skip to content

She went on. "There's the drown of things and the swim of…

“She went on. "There's the drown of things and the swim of things, I guess. I've been going back and forth, back and forth. I feel the weight of it. And this bewilderment - how can something that doesn't have a form, doesn't have a definition, doesn't have words - how can it have such weight? And…” quote by David Levithan
Download Open image
““She went on. "There's the drown of things and the swim of things, I guess. I've been going back and forth, back and forth. I feel the weight of it. And this bewilderment - how can something that doesn't have a form, doesn't have a definition, doesn't have words - how can it have such weight? And yet, there's the need to swim." "Life goes on," I offered. "Yeah, but you see, 'Life goes on' is as a redundancy. Life is defined by its going on.””

David Levithan

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 reflects on the paradox of intangible concepts feeling heavy, yet we must keep moving through them, recognizing life’s continuity as its essence.

In simple terms: Intangible ideas feel heavy, but we must keep moving.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the ongoing flow despite uncertainty.

Themes

existential continuity paradox emotion

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • grief processing
  • creative writing
  • personal growth
  • mindfulness

Key Concepts

weight of concepts definition language movement

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you navigate weighty thoughts without stagnation?
  • What does “swim” symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex emotional states.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by David Levithan

Explore all 1,648 David Levithan quotes

More Drown quotes

Browse all 567 Drown quotes