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You have a life and there are these volumes on either side…

“You have a life and there are these volumes on either side that go unvisited; some day soon as the world winds he will lie beneath what he now stands on, dead as those insects whose sound he no longer hears, and the grass will go on growing, wild and blind.” quote by John Updike
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““You have a life and there are these volumes on either side that go unvisited; some day soon as the world winds he will lie beneath what he now stands on, dead as those insects whose sound he no longer hears, and the grass will go on growing, wild and blind.””

John Updike

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life is fleeting; opportunities pass unnoticed while we remain oblivious, and nature continues indifferent.

In simple terms: Life passes unnoticed while nature goes on.

Key Takeaway

Notice and seize moments before they fade.

Themes

mortality awareness nature

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • daily routine
  • career decisions
  • relationships
  • travel planning

Key Concepts

impermanence existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What moments are you overlooking?
  • How does nature’s indifference affect your priorities?
A Different Perspective

The quote assumes a poetic tone that may not apply to pragmatic decisions.

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