Beginning Quote by Franz Kafka
““And thus it happens that the reader, the closer he comes to the novel's end, the more he wishes he were back in the summer with which it begins, and finally, instead of following the hero onto the cliffs of suicide, joyfully turns back to that summer, content to stay there forever.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Trial, Franz Kafka, 1925
The reader longs for the nostalgic beginning, preferring the comfort of past summer over the tragic climax.
In simple terms: Nostalgia pulls us back from tragedy.
Key Takeaway
Cherish the beginnings.
Themes
nostalgia
comfort
choice
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading a novel
- reflecting on life
- seeking comfort
- avoiding despair
Key Concepts
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the summer symbolize for you?
- How do you balance nostalgia with moving forward?
A Different Perspective
The ending may hold necessary growth despite discomfort.
![“I believe that, when [meeting of writer and reader] happens and the reader goes out into the world the next day, there's some alteration that might possibly inflect the person positively.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c78/george-saunders-317_alterations_i-believe-that-when-meeting-of-writer-an_2524233.jpg)
![“The tremendous world I have inside my head. But how [to] free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand times [I'd] rather be torn to pieces than rather it in me or bury it. That, indeed, is why I am here, that is quite clear to me.” quote by Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f19/franz-kafka-214_freedom_the-tremendous-world-i-have-inside-my-he_5848.jpg)
