Anguish Quote by Guillaume Apollinaire
““Now you are walking in Paris all alone in the crowd As herds of bellowing buses drive by Love's anguish tightens your throat As if you were never to be loved again If you lived in the old days you would enter a monastery You are ashamed when you discover yourself reciting a prayer You make fun of yourself and like the fire of Hell your laughter crackles The sparks of your laugh gild the depths of your life It's a painting hanging in a dark museum And sometimes you go and look at it close up””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Now you are walking in Paris…” (1913)
The poem juxtaposes urban isolation with inner turmoil, using vivid imagery to explore existential loneliness and self‑reflection.
In simple terms: Urban solitude triggers deep self‑examination.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning amid city crowds.
Themes
loneliness
existence
art
self‑reflection
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- travel
- urban living
- mental health therapy
Key Concepts
existentialism
modernism
poetry
Questions to Reflect On
- How does city life amplify inner conflict?
- What does the monastery symbolize?
A Different Perspective
May be overly abstract for some readers.
