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It is almost startling to hear this warning of departed…

“It is almost startling to hear this warning of departed time sounding among the tombs, and telling the lapse of the hour, which, like a billow, has rolled us onward towards the grave.” quote by Washington Irving
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“It is almost startling to hear this warning of departed time sounding among the tombs, and telling the lapse of the hour, which, like a billow, has rolled us onward towards the grave.”

Washington Irving

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 likens time’s warning to a rolling billow that carries us inevitably toward death, emphasizing mortality’s relentless passage.

In simple terms: Time’s warning rolls us toward the grave like a wave.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge mortality to live meaningfully.

Themes

mortality time impermanence

Mood

somber thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • graveyard visit
  • historical reflection
  • personal aging

Key Concepts

literature existentialism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does awareness of mortality shape your choices?
  • What gives you comfort against time’s flow?
A Different Perspective

Focusing on death can cause anxiety.

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