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Those who turn the day into night, the young, the drug…

“Those who turn the day into night, the young, the drug addict, the profligate, the drunken and that most miserable, the lover who watches all night long in fear and anguish. These can never again live the life of the day. When one meets them at high noon they give off, as if it were a protective…” quote by Djuna Barnes
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““Those who turn the day into night, the young, the drug addict, the profligate, the drunken and that most miserable, the lover who watches all night long in fear and anguish. These can never again live the life of the day. When one meets them at high noon they give off, as if it were a protective emanation, something dark and muted. The light does not become them any longer. They begin to have an unrecorded look. It is as if they were being tried by the continual blows of an unseen adversary.””

Djuna Barnes

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Those who live in darkness—addiction, despair, loss—cannot rejoin the bright, ordinary world; they become shadows at noon.

In simple terms: Dark lives cannot return to normal daylight.

Key Takeaway

Seek healing to re‑enter ordinary life.

Themes

despair addiction alienation

Mood

somber reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • rehabilitation programs
  • mental health support
  • peer groups
  • creative expression

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology social stigma

Questions to Reflect On

  • What steps can help someone move from darkness to light?
  • How does society label and treat those in despair?
A Different Perspective

Recovery is possible but often hindered by stigma and lack of resources.

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