Are not our lives too short for that full utterance which…
““Are not our lives too short for that full utterance which through all our stammerings is of course our only and abiding intention? I have given up expecting those last words, whose ring, if they could only be pronounced, would shake both heaven and earth. There is never time to say our last word - the last word of our love, of our desire, faith, remorse, submission, revolt. The heaven and earth must not be shaken. I suppose - at least, not by us who know so many truths about either.””
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 too brief to fully express deep emotions; we often postpone saying our final words of love, desire, and truth.
In simple terms: We rarely utter our ultimate feelings before death.
Key Takeaway
Speak your truth now.
Themes
mortality
communication
regret
authenticity
truth
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- Romantic relationships
- end‑of‑life conversations
- personal journals
- confessional writing
Key Concepts
Existentialism
psychology of silence
human longing
Questions to Reflect On
- What truth have you left unsaid?
- How does fear shape our final expressions?
A Different Perspective
Fear of vulnerability may silence us.