Ever since I was fifteen, that is to say from that moment…
““Ever since I was fifteen, that is to say from that moment when I lost all that was left me of my childhood, from the moment when I ceased to be aware of the present and knew only the past hurrying into the future, that is to say into the abyss, ever since I became fully conscious of time I have felt old and I have wanted to live. I have run after life as though to catch time, and I have tried to live. I have run after life so much that it has always escaped me, I have run, I have never been late and never too early, and yet I have never caught up with it: it is as though I have run alongside of it. What is life, I may be asked. For me, life is not Time; it is not this state of existence, for ever escaping us, slipping between our fingers and vanishing like a ghost as soon as you try to grasp it. For me it is, it must be, the present, presentness, plenitude. I have run after life so much that I have lost it.””
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 feels trapped by time, perceiving life as fleeting and elusive, yearning for present fullness but constantly chasing it without capture.
In simple terms: Time feels endless and life seems out of reach.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the present instead of chasing time.
Themes
time
existence
presentness
longing
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- mental health counseling
- philosophical discussion
Key Concepts
philosophy
existentialism
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your perception of time affect your daily choices?
- What practices help you stay present?
A Different Perspective
Life cannot be fully grasped by pursuit alone.