Fear Quote by Brian W. Aldiss
““Life was a pleasure; he looked back at its moments, many of them as much shrouded in mist as the opposite bank of the Thames; objectively, many of them held only misery, fear, confusion; but afterwards, and even at the time, he had known an exhilaration stronger than the misery, fear, or confusion. A fragment of belief came to him from another epoch: 'Cogito ergo sum'. For him that had not been true; his truth had been, 'Senito ergo sum'. I feel so I exist. He enjoyed this fearful, miserable, confused life, and not only because it made more sense than non-life.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Non-Stop (also known as Starship) by Brian W. Aldiss, 1958
The narrator reflects that life, despite its suffering, feels more meaningful than non-existence, and his sense of being comes from personal experience rather than abstract reasoning.
In simple terms: Life feels real even when painful, and that feels more valuable than nothing.
Key Takeaway
Embrace existence despite hardship.
Themes
existence
meaning
suffering
subjectivity
Mood
reflective
melancholic
philosophical
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- daily struggle
- creative work
- relationships
- health challenges
- grief
Key Concepts
phenomenology
existentialism
personal truth
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes life worth living for you?
- How do you balance pain and meaning?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook the value of seeking relief from suffering.
