The voice came from the night all around him, in his head…
““The voice came from the night all around him, in his head and out of it. "What do you want?' it repeated. He wondered if he dared to turn and look, realised he did not. 'Well? You come here every night, in a place where the living are not welcome. I have seen you. Why?' 'I wanted to meet you,' he said, without looking around. 'I want to live for ever.' His voice cracked as he said it. He had stepped over the precipice. There was no going back. In his imagination, he could already feel the prick of needle-sharp fangs in his neck, a sharp prelude to eternal life. The sound began. It was low and sad, like the rushing of an underground river. It took him several long seconds to recognise it as laughter. 'This is not life,' said the voice. It said nothing more, and after a while the young man knew he was alone in the graveyard.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A young man seeks eternal life, but the voice warns that immortality is not true life, leaving him alone in a graveyard.
In simple terms: He learns immortality isn’t real life.
Key Takeaway
Question the true meaning of life before seeking eternity.
Themes
immortality
existence
loneliness
choice
Mood
dark
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
fiction
philosophical
When to use this quote
- making life decisions
- confronting fear
- seeking purpose
- creative writing
Key Concepts
philosophy
myth
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “life” truly mean to you?
- Are there healthier ways to confront mortality?
A Different Perspective
The voice may be a hallucination, not an objective truth.