Children Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
““You see, when you were little they kept sending me snap–shots of you, first as a baby and then as a child in socks playing on the beach with a pail and shovel, and then suddenly as a wistful little girl with wondering, pure eyes—and I used to build dreams about you. A man has to have something living to cling to. I think, Lois, it was your little white soul I tried to keep near me—even when life was at its loudest and every intellectual idea of God seemed the sheerest mockery, and desire and love and a million things came up to me and said: 'Look here at me! See, I'm Life. You're turning your back on it!' All the way through that shadow, Lois, I could always see your baby soul flitting on ahead of me, very frail and clear and wonderful.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
The passage reflects on clinging to a cherished memory of innocence as a source of comfort amid life's chaos and existential doubt.
In simple terms: Holding onto a pure memory steadies us in turmoil.
Key Takeaway
Remember and cherish pure moments.
Themes
memory
comfort
existential doubt
Mood
nostalgic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief
- creative inspiration
- personal loss
Key Concepts
innocence
longing
spiritual yearning
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “baby soul” symbolize for you?
- How can memories of innocence guide us through hardship?
