Astonishment Quote by Annie Dillard
“I sip my coffee. I look at the mountain, which is still doing its tricks, as you look at a still-beautiful face belonging to a person who was once your lover in another country years ago: with fond nostalgia, and recognition, but no real feelings save a secret astonishment that you are now strangers. Thanks. For the memories. It is ironic that the one thing that all religions recognize as separating us from our creator--our very self-consciousness--is also the one thing that divides us from our fellow creatures. It was a bitter birthday present from evolution, cutting us off at both ends.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Mountain and Memory, 1995
Nostalgia blends beauty and distance, reminding us that consciousness separates us from both divinity and fellow beings.
In simple terms: Memory mixes beauty with distance, highlighting our isolation.
Key Takeaway
Embrace memories, accept separation.
Themes
nostalgia
identity
philosophy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- travel reflections
- personal essays
- friendship endings
Key Concepts
existentialism
memory
religion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this separation teach about human connection?
- How can we bridge the gap between self and others?
A Different Perspective
Nostalgic may obscure present reality.
