After all, let a man take what pains he may to hush it…
““After all, let a man take what pains he may to hush it down, a human soul is an awful ghostly, unquiet possession, for a bad man to have. Who knows the metes and bounds of it? Who knows all it's awful perhapses, -those shudderings and temblings, which it can no more live down than it can outlive its own eternity! What a fool is he who locks his door to keep out spirits, who has in his own bosom a spirit he dares not meet alone, -whose voice, smothered far down, and piled over with mountains of earthiness, is yet like the forewarning trumpet of doom!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A soul is a restless, haunting presence that cannot be fully suppressed; trying to lock it away is futile.
In simple terms: The soul is an uneasy, lingering presence.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and confront inner turmoil.
Themes
spirituality
psychology
freedom
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal grief
- mental health
- spiritual crisis
Key Concepts
existential angst
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to “lock your door” against inner spirits?
- How can confronting one’s own soul alleviate fear?
A Different Perspective
Suppressing inner pain can intensify suffering.