--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had left a certain mode of life and…" description: "\"“He had left a certain mode of life and chosen another and between that life and this a river ran, as impassable as the river of death. And now he want..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/elizabeth-goudge-2888_coward_he-had-left-a-certain-mode-of-life-and-c_424662.jpg" --- # He had left a certain mode of life and chosen another and… ![“He had left a certain mode of life and chosen another and between that life and this a river ran, as impassable as the river of death. And now he wanted to get back madly, desperately, but he couldn't, not even though he knew that the river was nothing but the inhibitions of his own mind… A normal…” quote by Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/elizabeth-goudge-2888_coward_he-had-left-a-certain-mode-of-life-and-c_424662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/elizabeth-goudge-2888_coward_he-had-left-a-certain-mode-of-life-and-c_424662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/elizabeth-goudge-2888_coward_he-had-left-a-certain-mode-of-life-and-c_424662.jpg) > ““He had left a certain mode of life and chosen another and between that life and this a river ran, as impassable as the river of death. And now he wanted to get back madly, desperately, but he couldn't, not even though he knew that the river was nothing but the inhibitions of his own mind… A normal man who has lived utterly alone for a long time ceases to be normal. A solitary who has cut himself off from human contact comes to have a terror of his fellow humans. A coward who had abandoned all responsibility is afraid to shoulder it again. A failure cannot trust to success. A sufferer who has been broken by life dare not be friends with it again… It was only his own mind that kept him back but a man's mind can be his greatest friend or his greatest enemy, according as it serves or binds his will, and his was his enemy. Its terrors controlled him. He was bound hand and foot by his own weakness. It was no use. He was a good as dead. "I cannot get back.”” [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person trapped by self‑imposed mental barriers cannot return to a former life, as fear and self‑doubt dominate. **In simple terms:** Mind can imprison or free us. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge limiting thoughts. Themes psychology solitude fear responsibility self‑sabotage Mood reflective somber introspective Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - recovering from isolation - making life choices - overcoming fear of responsibility Key Concepts self‑limiting beliefs inner conflict identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - What mental barriers keep you stuck? - How can you transform self‑doubt into confidence? A Different Perspective Mindset alone be a prison if not examined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) ## Related quotes > [It was always himself that the coward abandoned first. After this all other betrayals came easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/it-was-always-himself-that-the-coward-abandoned-first-after-this-all/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“I knew that what I was seeking to discover was a thing I'd always known. That all courage was a form of constancy. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-knew-that-what-i-was-seeking-to-discover-was-a-thing-i-d-always/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [If I did not see that the Lord kept watch over the ship, I should long since have abandoned the helm. But I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-i-did-not-see-that-the-lord-kept-watch-over-the-ship-i-should-long/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“I wanted very much to be a person of value and I had to ask myself how this could be possible if there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-wanted-very-much-to-be-a-person-of-value-and-i-had-to-ask-myself/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [...that swimming, sloping, elusive something about the dark-bluish tint of the iris which seemed still to retain the shadows it had absorbed of ancient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/that-swimming-sloping-elusive-something-about-the-dark-bluish-tint-of/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“The powers of a man's mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-powers-of-a-man-s-mind-are-directly-proportioned-to-the-quantity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The powers of a man's mind are directly proportional to the quantity of coffee he drank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mackintosh/the-powers-of-a-man-s-mind-are-directly-proportional-to-the-quantity/) [James Mackintosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mackintosh/) > [Man's mind is his basic tool of survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/man-s-mind-is-his-basic-tool-of-survival/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The inlet of a man's mind is what he learns; the outlet is what he accomplishes. If his mind is not fed by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-jenks/the-inlet-of-a-man-s-mind-is-what-he-learns-the-outlet-is-what-he/) Jeremiah Jenks > [“Since knowledge, thinking, and rational action are properties of the individual, since the choice to exercise his rational faculty or not depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/since-knowledge-thinking-and-rational-action-are-properties-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Guilt, the poor man's mind control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kijewski/guilt-the-poor-man-s-mind-control/) [Karen Kijewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kijewski/) > [He will see himself and life and the world as truly as our human limitations will permit; realizing the brevity and minuteness of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/he-will-see-himself-and-life-and-the-world-as-truly-as-our-human/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [For the ordinary man, whose mind is a checkerboard of crisscrossing reflections, opinions, and prejudices, bare attention is virtually impossible; his life is thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kapleau/for-the-ordinary-man-whose-mind-is-a-checkerboard-of-crisscrossing/) [Philip Kapleau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kapleau/) > [“Charles Darwin himself recognized this problem and feared it when he wrote hauntingly: “Within me the horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-clark/charles-darwin-himself-recognized-this-problem-and-feared-it-when-he/) [Mark Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-clark/) > [ “\[Roger\] “Do you know how amazingly beautiful you are to me?” “As beautiful as you are to me.” She slid her gaze down then… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-saint/roger-do-you-know-how-amazingly-beautiful-you-are-to-me-as-beautiful/) [J.L. Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-saint/) ## More by Elizabeth Goudge > [“He strolled to the front door and stood watching, letting the picture of Felicity grave itself so deeply on his mind that when with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/he-strolled-to-the-front-door-and-stood-watching-letting-the-picture/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I have known him nearly all my life, and I am going to marry him, so that there won't ever be a time when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-have-known-him-nearly-all-my-life-and-i-am-going-to-marry-him-so/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Because of course she had known she must go. She always did the thing because in obedience lay the integrity that God asked of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/because-of-course-she-had-known-she-must-go-she-always-did-the-thing/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Marriage is a very long process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/marriage-is-a-very-long-process/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Being ill makes you feel what well people call sentimental, but what you feel is nonetheless genuine whatever they call it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/being-ill-makes-you-feel-what-well-people-call-sentimental-but-what/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Nothing living should ever be treated with contempt. Whatever it is that lives, a man, a tree, or a bird, should be touched gently,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-living-should-ever-be-treated-with-contempt-whatever-it-is/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“These black times go as they come and we do not know how they come or why they go. But we know that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/these-black-times-go-as-they-come-and-we-do-not-know-how-they-come-or/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“What is the distinguishing mark of an aristocrat?' she asked him suddenly. 'Reverence,' he replied.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/what-is-the-distinguishing-mark-of-an-aristocrat-she-asked-him/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Could you understand the meaning of light if there were no darkness to point the contrast? Day and night, life and death, love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/could-you-understand-the-meaning-of-light-if-there-were-no-darkness/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The sun is still there... even if clouds drift over it. Once you have experienced the reality of sunshine you may weep, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-sun-is-still-there-even-if-clouds-drift-over-it-once-you-have/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [The lovers of life, they are children at heart always in their wonder and delight, but they do not grab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-lovers-of-life-they-are-children-at-heart-always-in-their-wonder/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [Our home, our special country, is for all of us the place where we find liberation; a very difficult word ... that tries to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/our-home-our-special-country-is-for-all-of-us-the-place-where-we-find/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“Nothing whatsoever, not even the existence of God to His lovers, can be proved, but that every man, if he is to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/nothing-whatsoever-not-even-the-existence-of-god-to-his-lovers-can-be/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) [Explore all 144 Elizabeth Goudge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) ## More Coward quotes > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [“The Coward will run away from danger, only to strike in the dark. The Heroine will run through the dark, even though she knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-cleinman/the-coward-will-run-away-from-danger-only-to-strike-in-the-dark-the/) David A. Cleinman > [“A thousand times a coward and not once a dead man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suad-amiry/a-thousand-times-a-coward-and-not-once-a-dead-man/) Suad Amiry > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It is true that only a coward can be brave, as a man who feels no fear has conquered nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conn-david-iggulden/it-is-true-that-only-a-coward-can-be-brave-as-a-man-who-feels-no-fear/) Conn & David Iggulden > [If you're a generous person, when you get money and fame, you're going to be more generous. If you're a sharer, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/if-you-re-a-generous-person-when-you-get-money-and-fame-you-re-going/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [My advice to you, if you should ever be in a hold up, is to line up with the cowards and save your bravery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/my-advice-to-you-if-you-should-ever-be-in-a-hold-up-is-to-line-up/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [People who keep dogs are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/people-who-keep-dogs-are-cowards-who-haven-t-got-the-guts-to-bite/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-the-disease-of-cowards-who-do-not-have-the-courage-to-speak/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If our principles are right, why should we be cowards?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/if-our-principles-are-right-why-should-we-be-cowards/) [Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/) > [I found from working on the film that I am a bigot, at times. And that I am also a coward, at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-howard/i-found-from-working-on-the-film-that-i-am-a-bigot-at-times-and-that/) [Terrence Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-howard/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) Browse all 1,331 Coward quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He had left a certain mode of life and chosen another and between that life and this a river ran, as impassable as the river of death. And now he wanted to get back madly, desperately, but he couldn't, not even though he knew that the river was nothing but the inhibitions of his own mind… A normal man who has lived utterly alone for a long time ceases to be normal. A solitary who has cut himself off from human contact comes to have a terror of his fellow humans. A coward who had abandoned all responsibility is afraid to shoulder it again. A failure cannot trust to success. A sufferer who has been broken by life dare not be friends with it again… It was only his own mind that kept him back but a man's mind can be his greatest friend or his greatest enemy, according as it serves or binds his will, and his was his enemy. Its terrors controlled him. He was bound hand and foot by his own weakness. It was no use. 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