I see the future. It is there, poised over the street…
““I see the future. It is there, poised over the street, hardly more dim than the present. What advantage will accrue from its realisation? The old woman stumps further and further away, she stops, pulls at a grey lock of hair which escapes from her handkerchief. She walks, she was there, now she is here... I don't know where I am any more: do i see her motions, or do I foresee them? I can no longer distinguish present from future and yet it lasts, it happens little by little; the old woman advances in the deserted street, shuffling her heavy, mannish brogues. This is time, time laid bare, coming slowly into existence, keeping us waiting, and when it does come making us sick because we realise it's been there for a long time. The old woman reaches the corner of the street, no more than a bundle of black clothes. All right then, it's new, she wasn't there a little while ago. But it's a tarnished deflowered newness, which can never surprise. She is going to turn the corner, she turns - during an eternity.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A meditation on the blurred line between present and future, feeling time as a tangible, unsettling presence that erodes certainty.
In simple terms: Time feels like a visible, confusing force that mixes now and later.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and stay present.
Themes
existence
time
perception
anxiety
philosophy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- narrative writing
- philosophical reflection
- creative storytelling
Key Concepts
phenomenology
temporal consciousness
existential dread
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing time’s fluidity affect your daily decisions?
- Can you find comfort in the present despite future uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
The passage may overemphasize confusion, neglecting moments of clarity.