Desires Quote by Erich Maria Remarque
““You are well off, you are alone, Hasse had said. All very well—the man who is alone cannot be forsaken. But sometimes, at night, the whole artificial structure collapses, life turns into a sobbing insistent melody; out of the senseless grinding of the everlasting barrel organ, rises up a whirlwind of wild desires, cravings, melancholy, hope, without direction seeking an object. Ach, this pitiful need for a little bit of warmth—couldn’t it be two hands then and a face bowed near? Or was that too only deception, surrender, and flight? Was there nothing then, but to be alone? I shut the window. No, there was nothing. For anything more, there was too little solid ground under one’s feet.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: All Quiet on the Western Front, 1929
Alone, one feels both vulnerable and free; night amplifies longing for warmth, yet isolation can be both refuge and torment.
In simple terms: Being alone brings both comfort and pain, especially at night.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude while seeking meaningful connection.
Themes
loneliness
existential yearning
nighttime reflection
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
philosophical
emotional
When to use this quote
- late night introspection
- mental health
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
human connection
inner turmoil
desire for warmth
search for purpose
Questions to Reflect On
- What does warmth mean to you?
- Can solitude be productive?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize solitude, ignoring practical needs for support.
