Smoke Quote by Alden Bell
““She leaves him sitting there, glancing back just once before going through the stairwell door and observing how the cloud of smoke from his cigar gets pulled in wisps out the dark gaping hole in the glass wall - as though it is his soul, too large for his massive frame and seeping out the pores of his skin and wandering circuitous back into the wilderness where it knows itself true among the violent and the dead.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, 2012
A vivid metaphor describing a man's overwhelming inner turmoil spilling outward, likened to smoke escaping a confined space, suggesting his soul is too expansive for his physical form.
In simple terms: His inner turmoil is too big for his body.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when inner struggles overflow.
Themes
identity
existentialism
psychology
metaphor
Mood
melancholic
introspective
poetic
Type
literary
descriptive
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- creative writing
- mental health counseling
- artistic expression
- character development
Key Concepts
self
expansion
containment
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice when your inner self feels trapped?
- What outlets can contain overwhelming emotions?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize suffering, overlooking practical coping strategies.
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
