Mine, said the stone, mine is the hour. I crush the…
““Mine, said the stone, mine is the hour. I crush the scissors, such is my power. Stronger than wishes, my power, alone. Mine, said the paper, mine are the words that smother the stone with imagined birds, reams of them, flown from the mind of the shaper. Mine, said the scissors, mine all the knives gashing through paper’s ethereal lives; nothing’s so proper as tattering wishes. As stone crushes scissors, as paper snuffs stone and scissors cut paper, all end alone. So heap up your paper and scissor your wishes and uproot the stone from the top of the hill. They all end alone as you will, you will.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote uses stone, paper, and scissors as metaphors for power, conflict, and isolation, suggesting all forces eventually end alone unless balanced.
In simple terms: Power leads to isolation if unchecked.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance competing forces.
Themes
conflict
power
isolation
balance
metaphor
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- artistic expression
- philosophical discussion
Key Concepts
symbolism
existentialism
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance competing desires?
- What does solitude mean for power?
A Different Perspective
Balancing forces may be impossible in some contexts.