Drug addict Quote by Djuna Barnes
““Those who turn the day into night, the young, the drug addict, the profligate, the drunken and that most miserable, the lover who watches all night long in fear and anguish. These can never again live the life of the day. When one meets them at high noon they give off, as if it were a protective emanation, something dark and muted. The light does not become them any longer. They begin to have an unrecorded look. It is as if they were being tried by the continual blows of an unseen adversary.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Nightwood, 1936
Those who live in darkness—addiction, despair, loss—cannot rejoin the bright, ordinary world; they become shadows at noon.
In simple terms: Dark lives cannot return to normal daylight.
Key Takeaway
Seek healing to re‑enter ordinary life.
Themes
despair
addiction
alienation
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- rehabilitation programs
- mental health support
- peer groups
- creative expression
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
social stigma
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can help someone move from darkness to light?
- How does society label and treat those in despair?
A Different Perspective
Recovery is possible but often hindered by stigma and lack of resources.
