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When I had that idea about the gaslights in the street, I…

“When I had that idea about the gaslights in the street, I glanced at the sky. It was very dark, but I could make out torn clouds and bottomless black gaps between them. Suddenly I noticed a little star in one of those gaps. I looked at it intently. That star reminded me that I wanted to kill…” quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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““When I had that idea about the gaslights in the street, I glanced at the sky. It was very dark, but I could make out torn clouds and bottomless black gaps between them. Suddenly I noticed a little star in one of those gaps. I looked at it intently. That star reminded me that I wanted to kill myself. I decided I would go through with it that very night.””

Fyodor Dostoevsky

About This Quote

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

The narrator describes a moment of profound despair, using a star as a symbol of suicidal intent, highlighting how darkness can amplify self‑destructive thoughts.

In simple terms: Darkness can intensify suicidal thoughts.

Key Takeaway

Seek help before despair deepens.

Themes

mental health despair suicide loneliness

Mood

despair urgent

Type

cautionary personal

When to use this quote

  • nighttime crisis
  • personal crisis
  • emergency intervention

Key Concepts

existential crisis psychological turmoil

Questions to Reflect On

  • What signs indicate a shift from ideation to action?
  • How can one find a lifeline in darkness?
A Different Perspective

Suicidal thoughts may be fleeting and treatable with support.

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