Again and again Quote by E. L. Doctorow
“There are moments when I cannot bear this unremitting consciousness. It knows only itself. Awake, I am in a continuum with my dreams. I feel my typewriters, my table, my chair to have that assurance of a solid world, where things take up space, where is not the endless emptiness of insubstantial thought that leads to nowhere but itself. My memories pale as I prevail upon them again and again. They become more and more ghostly. I fear nothing so much as losing them altogether and having only my blank endless mind to live in.”
About This Quote
The narrator confronts an overwhelming, solitary consciousness that isolates him from tangible reality; memory becomes ghostly, and the fear of losing them threatens his sense of self.
In simple terms: Intense self‑awareness can feel isolating and erode memory.
Key Takeaway
Over‑consciousness can lead to alienation and fear of forgetting.
Themes
consciousness
memory
isolation
existential
identity
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- writer experiencing writer’s block
- artist confronting creative paralysis
- person dealing with memory loss
Key Concepts
self‑reflexivity
ontological anxiety
Practical Applications
- ground oneself in sensory routines
- keep external memory aids
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one balance self‑awareness with engagement in the world?
- What practices help preserve memory without stifling creativity?
A Different Perspective
Intense introspection can also foster deep insight; the quote focuses on fear rather than potential growth.
