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There must be some other possibility than death or…

“There must be some other possibility than death or lifelong penance, said the Ellen Ward of my dream, that woman I hate and fear. I am sure she meant some meeting, some intersection of lines; and some cowardly, hopeful geometer in my brain tells me it is the angle at which two lines prop each…” quote by Wallace Stegner
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“There must be some other possibility than death or lifelong penance, said the Ellen Ward of my dream, that woman I hate and fear. I am sure she meant some meeting, some intersection of lines; and some cowardly, hopeful geometer in my brain tells me it is the angle at which two lines prop each other up, the leaning together from the vertical which produces the false arch.”

Wallace Stegner

About This Quote

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

A dream figure suggests an alternative to death or endless punishment, using geometry as a metaphor for hope and connection.

In simple terms: Dream imagery offers a hopeful alternative to despair, symbolized by intersecting lines.

Key Takeaway

Seek hopeful perspectives that bridge despair and optimism.

Themes

hope despair dreams geometry metaphor

Mood

hopeful introspective

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal crisis
  • creative writing
  • spiritual seeking
  • mental health counseling

Key Concepts

alternatives existential psychology symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the “angle” represent in your life?
  • How can metaphorical geometry guide personal resilience?
A Different Perspective

Hope may be fragile and not universally accessible.

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