Air Quote by Dave Eggers
“And we will be ready, at the end of every day will be ready, will not say no to anything, will try to stay awake while everyone is sleeping, will not sleep, will make the shoes with the elves, will breathe deeply all the time, breathe in all the air full of glass and nails and blood, will breathe it and drink it, so rich, so when it comes we will not be angry, will be content, tired enough to go, gratefully, will shake hands with everyone, bye, bye, and then pack a bag, some snacks, and go to the volcano.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Circle, Dave Eggers, 2013
A frantic, hopeful vision of relentless work and readiness, blending absurdity with a desire for purpose and community.
In simple terms: Relentless readiness and odd optimism.
Key Takeaway
Embrace purpose, stay alert, accept oddities.
Themes
work ethic
optimism
absurdity
community
purpose
Mood
determined
quirky
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative projects
- night shifts
- travel planning
- community building
- adapting to chaos
Key Concepts
existentialism
modernity
ritual
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance constant readiness with personal well‑being?
- What does “breathing glass and nails” symbolize?
A Different Perspective
The hyper‑active tone may overlook the need for rest and reflection.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)