I had read four thousand pages of letters by Lawrence and…
““I had read four thousand pages of letters by Lawrence and I wanted thousands of pages more... I wanted them not to end. And yet, at the same time that I was wishing they would not come to an end, I was hurrying through these books because however much you are enjoying a book, however much you want it never to end, you are always eager for it to end. However much you are enjoying a book you are always flicking to the end, counting to see how many pages are left, looking forward to the time when you can put the book down and have done with it. At the back of our minds, however much we are enjoying a book, we come to the end of it and some little voice is always saying, "Thank Christ for that!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reading creates a paradox of desire: we cherish the story yet yearn for its conclusion, revealing our need for closure and new experiences.
In simple terms: We love books but also want them to end so we can move on.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the ending as a doorway to new stories.
Themes
desire
closure
paradox
reading
anticipation
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- finishing a novel
- binge reading
- book club discussions
- writing personal reflections
Key Concepts
psychology
literary analysis
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the end of a story represent for you?
- How do you balance enjoyment with the need for closure?
A Different Perspective
The tension may cause anxiety about finishing projects.