Life Quote by Alice Notley
““ ‘You are your” “Past, Present,” “& Future,’ he said” ” ‘You divide into” “those components” “in this room’ ” ” ‘But I do not have” “components!’ ” “our three voices said,” ” ‘My secret name—” “Time’s secret name” “is Oneness,” “is One Thing’ ” “As I—the one” “in the middle—spoke,” “the one of us in front—” “who was the Past—” “had already” “finished speaking” “& was awaiting” “his reply” “He said,” ” ‘Don’t we seem” “to experience” “things somewhat this way?” “There is past, present” :& future’ ” “The Future then cried out,” ” ‘Where is my life?” ‘Where is my life?” “You have stolen” “my life!’ ” “There was a silence” “The man” “reached out &” “pressed a button” “on the cave wall—” “we three united” “into one again” “while he wrote words on” “a clipboard” “Then he looked up & said,” ” ‘Going forward?” “Going on?” “Death lies ahead, you know’ ” “Any woman” “may already” “be dead,’ ” “I said””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Untitled, spoken word performance, 2020
The speaker explores the fluidity of identity across time, merging past, present, and future into a unified self while confronting mortality and purpose.
In simple terms: Identity spans time, seeking unity.
Key Takeaway
Embrace present moment, integrate past and future.
Themes
identity
time
mortality
unity
purpose
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
hopeful
Type
poetic
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- performance art
- meditative practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
existentialism
temporal consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does merging past and future affect self‑understanding?
- What does “Oneness” mean for personal growth?
A Different Perspective
The concept of a fixed self may oversimplify complex human experience.
