Casper Quote by Annie Proulx
““There's a feeling you get driving down to Casper at night from the north, and not only there, other places where you come through hours of darkness unrelieved by any lights except the crawling wink of some faraway ranch truck. You come down a grade and all at once the shining town lies below you, slung out like all western towns, and with the curved bulk of mountain behind it. The lights trail away to the east in a brief and stubby cluster of yellow that butts hard up against the dark. And if you've ever been to the lonely coast you've seen how the shore rock drops off into the black water and how the light on the point is final. Beyond are the old rollers coming on for millions of years. It is like that here at night but instead of the rollers it's the wind. But the water was here once. You think about the sea that covered this place hundreds of millions of years ago, the slow evaporation, mud turned to stone. There's nothing calm in those thoughts. It isn't finished, it can still tear apart. Nothing is finished. You take your chances.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Night in Casper” (fictional), 2000s
The passage reflects on night’s darkness, ancient geological time, and the ever‑present, unfinished forces of nature, urging boldness despite uncertainty.
In simple terms: Night reveals ancient forces and uncertainty.
Embrace risk amid unknown forces.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- travel at night
- storm watching
- geological study
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What unknown forces shape your choices?
- How do you act when faced with vast uncertainty?
The poetic tone may romanticize danger, overlooking practical safety.