Eternity Quote by Anthony Powell
““Speaking about time’s relentless passage, Powell’s narrator compares certain stages of experience to the game of Russian Billiards as once he used to play it with a long vanished girlfriend. A game in which, he says, “...at the termination of a given passage of time...the hidden gate goes down...and all scoring is doubled. This is perhaps an image of how we live. For reasons not always at the time explicable, there are specific occasions when events begin suddenly to take on a significance previously unsuspected; so that before we really know where we are, life seems to have begun in earnest at last, and we ourselves, scarcely aware that any change has taken place, are careering uncontrollably down the slippery avenues of eternity." ””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell, 1951
The quote likens sudden, profound moments in life to a billiards game where a hidden gate opens and scores double, illustrating how unexpected events can dramatically shift our perception of time and purpose.
In simple terms: Life can change abruptly, making us feel we’ve suddenly started living fully.
Key Takeaway
Notice and embrace sudden turning points.
Themes
change
perception
time
sudden insight
life’s rhythm
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- career breakthrough
- creative inspiration
- relationship turning point
Key Concepts
Narrative metaphor
existential reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What unexpected moment reshaped your life?
- How do you recognize hidden opportunities?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may over‑dramatize random events, ignoring gradual growth.
