Time Quote by Alice McDermott
““Some vestige of his race or of his sex made him think, whenever he looked out across the ocean: As it was before me and as it will be long after I’m gone. For the second time today, he touched his thumb to his fingertips. He could make it to the 1980s or 1990s, perhaps even to the next century, when the new baby would be grown, maybe with children of his or her own. But even with the best of luck, it would not be equal to the time he’d already spent.””
About This Quote
The narrator reflects on how identity and mortality shape perception of time, seeing the present as a fleeting point between past and future, and recognizing that personal history cannot be reclaimed despite future possibilities.
In simple terms: Identity frames temporal awareness.
Key Takeaway
Our past defines how we view the future.
Themes
mortality
identity
time perception
nostalgia
generational continuity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- contemplating aging
- thinking about legacy
- facing existential uncertainty
Key Concepts
self‑reflection
temporal consciousness
human legacy
Practical Applications
- philosophical essays
- creative writing prompts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal identity influence our sense of time?
- What does it mean to feel disconnected from future possibilities?
![“Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. [Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione quidem violari fas fuit.]” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/deb/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_hands_things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched_11960.jpg)
