Burden Quote by Henri Alain-Fournier
““This evening, which I have tried to spirit away, is a strange burden to me. While time moves on, while the day will soon end and I already wish it gone, there are men who have entrusted all their hopes to it, all their love and their last efforts. There are dying men or others who are waiting for a debt to come due, who wish that tomorrow would never come. There are others for whom the day will break like a pang of remorse; and others who are tired, for whom the night will never be long enough to give them the rest that they need. And I - who have lost my day - what right do I have to wish that tomorrow comes?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier, 1913
The speaker feels conflicted about wishing tomorrow's arrival, recognizing others' deep hopes and suffering tied to the future.
In simple terms: Wishing for tomorrow feels selfish when others depend on it.
Key Takeaway
Consider others' needs before personal desire.
Themes
empathy
hope
existential angst
Mood
reflective
melancholy
Type
philosophical
emotive
When to use this quote
- caregivers
- patients awaiting outcomes
- people facing deadlines
- those coping with loss
Key Concepts
human condition
temporal awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal longing with others' expectations?
- What responsibilities arise from shared hope?
A Different Perspective
It may be impossible to fully understand others' burdens.
