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There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into…

“There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice with her hair blown back; she was about to grasp something that just evaded her. There…” quote by Virginia Woolf
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“There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice with her hair blown back; she was about to grasp something that just evaded her. There must be another life, here and now, she repeated. This is too short, too broken. We know nothing, even about ourselves.”

Virginia Woolf

About This Quote

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

The narrator longs for a different, more fulfilling existence, feeling trapped in the present and uncertain about self‑knowledge.

In simple terms: She feels stuck and seeks a new life now.

Key Takeaway

Explore new possibilities despite uncertainty.

Themes

existential longing self‑discovery time identity

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary existential

When to use this quote

  • daily routine
  • creative work
  • personal reflection
  • mental health counseling

Key Concepts

Modernism psychology feminist literature

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “another life” mean to you?
  • How can you find meaning in the present?
A Different Perspective

The desire for another life may ignore the value of present moments.

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