All this business of a labour to accomplish, before I can…
“All this business of a labour to accomplish, before I can end, of words to say, a truth to recover, in order to say it, before I can end, of an imposed task, once known, long neglected, finally forgotten, to perform, before I can be done with speaking, done with listening, I invented it all, in the hope it would console me, help me to go on, allow me to think of myself as somewhere on a road, moving, between a beginning and an end, gaining ground, losing ground, getting lost, but somehow in the long run making headway.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker describes endless mental labor to articulate truth, seeking meaning and consolation amid life's uncertainties and contradictions.
In simple terms: Trying to find meaning through words and tasks.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the process, not just the outcome.
Themes
existentialism
search for meaning
human condition
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
philosophical
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- writing
- therapy
- personal reflection
- creative work
Key Concepts
absurdism
self‑reflection
consolation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “headway” mean to you?
- Can endless effort be both burden and balm?
A Different Perspective
The endless pursuit may never fully resolve the underlying emptiness.