Surely some of you have felt the same way that I do. You…
““Surely some of you have felt the same way that I do. You have turned sullenly from those thousands of glowing, perfect teeth lighting the American landscape and slouched to the darkness—the half-lighted room, the twilight forest, the empty café. There you have sat and settled into the bare, hard fact that the world is terrible in its beauty, indifferent much of the time, incoherent and nervous and resplendent when on certain evenings, when the clouds are right, a furious owl swooshes luridly from the horizon. You feel that sweet pressure behind your eyes, as if you would at any minute explode into hot tears. You long to languish in this unnamed sadness, this vague sense that everything is precious because it is dying, because you can never hold it, because it exists for only an instant.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The world is simultaneously beautiful and indifferent, prompting a bittersweet longing for its fleeting moments.
In simple terms: Life is beautiful yet fleeting, causing mixed emotions.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both awe and melancholy.
Themes
beauty
impermanence
melancholy
Mood
contemplative
poignant
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- nature walks
- art appreciation
- grief counseling
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
aesthetic appreciation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance awe with sorrow?
- What does “terrible in its beauty” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on sadness may hinder joy.