One night in long bygone times, man awoke and saw himself…
““One night in long bygone times, man awoke and saw himself. He saw that he was naked under cosmos, homeless in his own body. All things dissolved before his testing thought, wonder above wonder, horror above horror unfolded in his mind. Then woman too awoke and said it was time to go and slay. And he fetched his bow and arrow, a fruit of the marriage of spirit and hand, and went outside beneath the stars. But as the beasts arrived at their waterholes where he expected them of habit, he felt no more the tiger’s bound in his blood, but a great psalm about the brotherhood of suffering between everything alive. That day he did not return with prey, and when they found him by the next new moon, he was sitting dead by the waterhole.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage reflects existential dread, the nakedness of humanity before the cosmos, and the futility of violent pursuits.
In simple terms: Humanity feels exposed and futile against the cosmos.
Key Takeaway
Contemplate existential meaning beyond material goals.
Themes
existentialism
philosophy
human condition
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- solo contemplation
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
Nakedness
cosmic insignificance
violence
suffering
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “brotherhood of suffering” mean to you?
- How can awareness of cosmic insignificance guide your actions?
A Different Perspective
May be too bleak for those seeking optimism.