Alley Quote by H.P. Oliver
““Excerpted From Chapter One I decided staying put in the alley was preferable to keeping the dead guy company, so I went outside and lit a Lucky Strike. The night air had gotten damper and chillier during the short time I was in the warehouse, or maybe it was just me. Wisps of lacy fog were now sinking into the alley, and a skulking cat in search of dinner moved slowly along the opposite wall until he noticed me. He scurried off in a furry blur, eager to be far away from the evil invading his domain. The cat had better sense than me and I wished I could follow his example.””
About This Quote
Source Short story excerpt, unknown source
The narrator prefers solitude over companionship with death, observing a cat's instinctive self‑preservation.
In simple terms: Choosing solitude over confronting death.
Key Takeaway
Value instinct over forced companionship.
Themes
solitude
death
instinct
Mood
contemplative
lonely
Type
narrative
reflective
When to use this quote
- night walk
- urban loneliness
- observing animals
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the cat symbolize?
- Why avoid the dead?
A Different Perspective
Loneliness may mask deeper fear of connection.
