There comes a time in a man's life, if he is unlucky and…
““There comes a time in a man's life, if he is unlucky and leads a full life, when he has a secret so dirty that he knows he never will get rid of it. (Shakespeare knew this and tried to say it, but he said it just as badly as anyone ever said it. 'All the perfumes of Arabia' makes you think of all the perfumes of Arabia and nothing more. It is the trouble with all metaphors where human behavior is concerned. People are not ships, chess men, flowers, race horses, oil paintings, bottles of champagne, excrement, musical instruments or anything else but people. Metaphors are all right to give you an idea.)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A person can carry a deep, shameful secret that feels inescapable, and attempts to describe it often fail, especially with metaphor.
In simple terms: Secrets can feel permanent and hard to express.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge secrets without over‑relying on metaphor.
Themes
guilt
secrecy
communication
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal confession
- therapy sessions
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
metaphor
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What truth are you avoiding?
- How can you speak plainly about hidden guilt?
A Different Perspective
Metaphors may obscure rather than clarify personal pain.