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It might seem odd that in cities teetering at the edge of…

“It might seem odd that in cities teetering at the edge of the abyss young people still go to class—in this case an evening class on corporate identity and product branding—but that is the way of things, with cities as with life, for one moment we are pottering about our errands as usual and the…” quote by Mohsin Hamid
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““It might seem odd that in cities teetering at the edge of the abyss young people still go to class—in this case an evening class on corporate identity and product branding—but that is the way of things, with cities as with life, for one moment we are pottering about our errands as usual and the next we are dying, and our eternally impending ending does not put a stop to our transient beginnings and middles until the instant when it does. Saeed””

Mohsin Hamid

About This Quote

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

Life’s ordinary routines continue even as death looms, showing humanity’s resilience and denial of mortality.

In simple terms: People keep living normally despite looming death.

Key Takeaway

Embrace daily life while acknowledging impermanence.

Themes

mortality routine resilience denial

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • commuting
  • classroom
  • personal reflection
  • creative work

Key Concepts

existentialism psychology urban life

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance daily duties with awareness of mortality?
  • What comforts you when confronting impermanence?
A Different Perspective

It may romanticize denial, overlooking genuine fear and grief.

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