Dusk Quote by Charles Nodier
““Scarcely has night arrived to undeceive, unfurling her wings of crepe (wings drained even of the glimmer just now dying in the tree-tops); scarcely has the last glint still dancing on the burnished metal heights of the tall towers ceased to fade, like a still glowing coal in a spent brazier, which whitens gradually beneath the ashes, and soon is indistinguishable from the abandoned hearth, than a fearful murmur rises amongst them, their teeth chatter with despair and rage, they hasten and scatter in their dread, finding witches everywhere, and ghosts. It is night... and Hell will gape once more.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Night and Hell, by Charles Nodier, early 19th century
The passage describes night falling, stripping away light and hope, leading to fear, chaos, and the sense that darkness awakens hellish forces.
In simple terms: Night removes hope, causing fear and chaos.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how loss of light fuels panic.
Themes
fear
chaos
darkness
despair
mythology
Mood
anxious
foreboding
dramatic
Type
literary
poetic
gothic
When to use this quote
- warfare
- nighttime travel
- urban unrest
- personal crisis
Key Concepts
existential dread
psychological terror
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does loss of light affect your decisions?
- What can you do to find inner light in darkness?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may exaggerate darkness as inherently evil, ignoring resilience.
