Cardboard Quote by Deborah Eisenberg
““When one contemplated Portia, when one contemplated Sharon, when one contemplated one's own apparently pointless, utterly trivial being, the questions hung all around one, as urgent as knives at the throat. But the instant one tried to grasp one of them and turn it to one's own purpose and pierce through the murk, it became blunt and useless as a piece of cardboard.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Little Foxes (fictional context), 1990s
Contemplating existential questions can feel urgent and threatening, but trying to force them into personal purpose often renders them meaningless.
In simple terms: Thinking too hard about life's purpose can make it feel pointless.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty rather than forcing meaning.
Themes
existentialism
identity
meaninglessness
Mood
introspective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- therapy
- philosophical discussion
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope when existential questions feel overwhelming?
- Can meaning arise without deliberate effort?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes meaning can be found by personalizing existential dread, which may not always be possible.
