Darkness Quote by David Foster Wallace
““But at the end of the white board, the edge, where you'll come down with your weight to make it send you off, there are two areas of darkness. Two flat shadows in the broad light. Two vague black ovals. The end of the board has two dirty spots. They are from all the poeple who've gone before you. Your feet as you stand here are tender and dented, hurt by the rough wet surface, and you see that the two dark sports are from people's skin. They are skin abraded from feet by the violence of the disappearance of people with real weight. More people than you could count without losing track. The weight and abrasion of their disappearance leaves little bits of soft tender feet behind, bits and shards and curls of skin that dirty and darken and tan as they lie tiny and smeared in the sun at the end of the board. They pile up and get smeared and mixed together. They darken in two circles.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commencement Address at Kenyon College, 2005
The passage describes the cumulative impact of countless individuals' struggles, symbolized by dark spots on a board, reflecting how personal hardships accumulate and become visible in shared spaces.
In simple terms: People’s hardships leave visible marks that accumulate over time.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect the hidden struggles of others.
Themes
humanity
memory
shared experience
pain
legacy
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- memorials
- community gatherings
- educational ceremonies
Key Concepts
existentialism
collective memory
physical metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we honor the unseen burdens of those before us?
- What can we learn from the physical traces of collective hardship?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure concrete details, making interpretation subjective.
