First time Quote by Frederik Pohl
““If a picture on the wall can remember, you remember that this is not the first time. If a picture on the wall can know things, you know that he has tried to leap out of that window before, and he is about to try again. He is trying to kill himself. He has tried nine times in the past fifty days. If a picture on the wall can regret, you regret this. It is a terrible waste for this man to keep trying to kill himself, since he does not at all want to die.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth, 1952
A man repeatedly attempts suicide, and the wall picture’s memory highlights the tragedy of repeated self-destruction.
In simple terms: Repeated suicide attempts are tragic and wasteful.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and intervene in self-harm cycles.
Themes
suicide
despair
mental health
repetition
Mood
somber
urgent
Type
cautionary
reflective
When to use this quote
- counseling sessions
- mental health awareness campaigns
- support groups
- crisis hotlines
Key Concepts
psychology
existential dread
fatalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What signs indicate someone is trapped in a self-harm cycle?
- How can we provide compassionate support?
A Different Perspective
The quote may dramatize mental illness, risking stigma if not contextualized.
