Memories Quote by Evelyn Waugh
““My theme is memory, that winged host that soared about me one grey morning of war-time. These memories, which are my life—for we possess nothing certainly except the past—were always with me. Like the pigeons of St. Mark’s, they were everywhere, under my feet, singly, in pairs, in little honey-voiced congregations, nodding, strutting, winking, rolling the tender feathers of their necks, perching sometimes, if I stood still, on my shoulder or pecking a broken biscuit from between my lips; until, suddenly, the noon gun boomed and in a moment, with a flutter and sweep of wings, the pavement was bare and the whole sky above dark with a tumult of fowl. Thus it was that morning.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Brideshead Revisited, 1945
The narrator likens memory to pervasive birds that surround and influence his wartime experience, emphasizing how past recollections dominate perception and mood.
In simple terms: Memories surround like birds, shaping his war-time view.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how memories shape present perception.
Themes
memory
war
perception
presence
nostalgia
Mood
reflective
melancholic
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- combat stress
- personal reflection
- writing
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
temporal consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you notice memories influencing your current emotions?
- Can you separate past from present in stressful moments?
A Different Perspective
Memories can be overwhelming, obscuring present reality.
