Break Quote by Annie Dillard
“We sleep to time's hurdy-gurdy; we wake, if ever we wake, to the silence of God. And then, when we wake to the deep shores of time uncreated, then when the dazzling dark breaks over the far slopes of time, then it's time to toss things, like our reason, and our will; then it's time to break our necks for home. There are no events but thoughts and the heart's hard turning, the heart's slow learning where to love and whom. The rest is merely gossip, and tales for other times.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Dark Night of the Soul”, 1992
Human existence cycles between sleep, awakening, and confronting the vast, silent mysteries of time and divinity.
In simple terms: Life moves from sleep to awareness of deep, silent truths.
Key Takeaway
Embrace moments of stillness for insight.
Themes
time
silence
spirituality
existence
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- meditation
- nighttime reflection
- philosophical study
- creative writing
Key Concepts
hurdy‑gurdy metaphor
cosmic perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “silence of God” mean to you?
- How can you notice time’s “dazzling dark”?
A Different Perspective
The abstract may feel inaccessible without concrete practice.
