Another time Quote by Graham Greene
“He gave her a bright fake smile; so much of life was a putting off of unhappiness for another time. Nothing was ever lost by delay. He had a dim idea that perhaps if one delayed long enough, things were taken out of one's hands altogether by death.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The End of the Affair” (1951)
He masks unhappiness with a bright smile, believing delay postpones loss, but death ultimately removes control.
In simple terms: Smile hides pain; delay only postpones loss.
Key Takeaway
Accept feelings rather than defer them.
Themes
mortality
avoidance
illusion
time
control
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- grief counseling
- life planning
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
impermanence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the smile conceal?
- Can postponement ever be healthy?
A Different Perspective
Delaying may worsen unresolved issues.
![“So much of life [is] a putting-off of unhappiness for another time. Nothing [is] ever lost by delay.” quote by Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7e1/graham-greene-441_another-time_so-much-of-life-is-a-putting-off-of-unha_1311696.jpg)
![“I tossed up whether I'd see [the critic] or not: I knew too well the pompous phrases of his article, the buried significance he would discover of which I was unaware and the faults I was tired of facing.” quote by Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc1/graham-greene-441_literary-criticism_i-tossed-up-whether-i-d-see-the-critic-o_72760.jpg)
