Is this what is called remorse of conscience or…
““Is this what is called remorse of conscience or repentance? I do not know, and I cannot tell to this day. Perhaps this remembrance even now contains something pleasurable for my passions. No--what is unbearable to me is only this image alone, and precisely on the threshold, with its raised and threatening little fist, only that look alone, only that minute alone, only that shaking head. This is what I cannot bear, because since then it appears to me almost every day. It does not appear on its own, but I myself evoke it, and cannot help evoking it, even though I cannot live with it.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A tormented mind is haunted by an image that cannot be escaped, mixing guilt, remorse, and an unbearable, vivid recollection.
In simple terms: A painful memory haunts and cannot be forgotten.
Key Takeaway
Accept the memory, seek understanding, and work toward healing.
Themes
guilt
remorse
psychology
memory
anguish
Mood
melancholic
intense
Type
literary
psychological
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- personal journaling
- conflict resolution
- creative writing
Key Concepts
existential dread
self‑reflection
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this image represent for you?
- How can you transform its pain into insight?
A Different Perspective
The image may dominate thoughts, preventing forward progress.