Activity Quote by Coleman Dowell
“Life is a series of diminishments. Each cessation of an activity either from choice or some variety of infirmity is a death, a putting to final rest. Each loss, of friend or precious enemy, can be equated with the closing off of a room containing blocks of nerves, or a dynamo governing a particular sensibility or intelligence and soon after the closing off the nerves atrophy and that part of oneself, in essence, drops away. The self is lightened, is held on earth by a gram less of mass and will.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Loss, published 2015
Every loss reduces us, but each reduction lightens the self, allowing new growth after old parts fade.
In simple terms: Loss lightens us, making room for new selves.
Key Takeaway
Embrace change after loss.
Themes
loss
growth
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- grief
- career change
- aging
- skill loss
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does loss shape your identity?
- What can you keep from past selves?
A Different Perspective
Loss can also cause deep grief and fear.
