Decision making Quote by Colm Toibín
““She has gone back to Brooklyn,' her mother would say. And, as the train rolled past Macmire Bridge on its way towards Wexford, Eilis imagined the years already when these words would come to mean less and less to the man who heard them and would come to mean more and more to herself. She almost smiled at the thought of it, then closed her eyes and tried to imagine nothing more.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Brooklyn by Colm Toibín, 2009
The narrator reflects on how words change meaning over time, shifting from external expectations to personal understanding.
In simple terms: Words lose external weight, gain personal meaning.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how meanings evolve with experience.
Themes
identity
memory
language
change
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
contemplative
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- personal reflection
- travel
- family conversations
Key Concepts
nostalgia
subjective perception
temporal shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice words changing meaning in your life?
- What personal experiences reshape your interpretation of familiar phrases?
A Different Perspective
The passage assumes a linear emotional progression, which may not apply to all readers.
