Despair Quote by Elizabeth Goudge
““There had come to him one of those moments of quiet despair that lie in wait for even the happiest. Stealthy-footed they leap upon us, as we walk along the street, as we sit at evening with fruit and wine upon the table and laughter on our lips, as we wake suddenly from sleep in the hour before dawn; neither at our work nor our play nor our prayers are we safe, those moments can leap at any time out of the blackness around human life and suddenly the colors that we have nailed to our mast are there no longer and all that we have grasped is dust.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, 1929
Life’s quiet moments of despair can strike unexpectedly, shattering our sense of stability and turning achievements into dust.
In simple terms: Unexpected sorrow can ruin our plans.
Key Takeaway
Accept impermanence and stay resilient.
Themes
fragility
existence
impermanence
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- daily routine
- unexpected loss
- emotional upheaval
Key Concepts
Ephemeral joy
human vulnerability
Questions to Reflect On
- What anchors you when sudden despair hits?
- How do you rebuild after loss?
A Different Perspective
Suffering may also bring hidden growth.
![“[Salvation] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not steal' is one's good opinion of one's self.” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/359/elizabeth-goudge-2888_burglary_salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine_266718.jpg)
