Skip to content

And now the moment. Such a moment has a peculiar…

“And now the moment. Such a moment has a peculiar character. It is brief and temporal indeed, like every moment; it is transient as all moments are; it is past, like every moment in the next moment. And yet it is decisive, and filled with the eternal. Such a moment ought to have a distinctive name…” quote by Zadie Smith
Download Open image
“And now the moment. Such a moment has a peculiar character. It is brief and temporal indeed, like every moment; it is transient as all moments are; it is past, like every moment in the next moment. And yet it is decisive, and filled with the eternal. Such a moment ought to have a distinctive name; let us call it the Fullness of Time.”

Zadie Smith

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 on a fleeting yet decisive moment that feels both temporary and eternal, proposing a name “Fullness of Time” for such instances.

In simple terms: A brief moment can feel both temporary and eternal, demanding a special name.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and name decisive moments.

Themes

time moment transience eternity significance

Mood

reflective poetic thoughtful

Type

philosophical literary inspirational

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • creative writing
  • mindfulness practice
  • historical analysis

Key Concepts

philosophy existentialism temporal perception

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you label pivotal experiences?
  • What makes a moment feel eternal?
A Different Perspective

Moments can be both fleeting and profound.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Zadie Smith

Explore all 457 Zadie Smith quotes

More Character quotes

Browse all 32,707 Character quotes