Skip to content

Regret Quote by Herman Koch

“I let go of the pump as well now. I registered a sense of fatigue. And regret. It was the same fatigue and regret you feel when you miss a tennis ball. You were planning to smash it, but you swing hard and miss; the arm holding the racket meets no resistance and lashes wildly through the air.” quote by Herman Koch
Download Open image
““I let go of the pump as well now. I registered a sense of fatigue. And regret. It was the same fatigue and regret you feel when you miss a tennis ball. You were planning to smash it, but you swing hard and miss; the arm holding the racket meets no resistance and lashes wildly through the air.””

Herman Koch

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Dinner, by Herman Koch, 2009

The speaker describes how overexertion leads to exhaustion and regret, likening it to a missed tennis swing that results in uncontrolled motion.

In simple terms: Pushing too hard causes fatigue and regret, like a missed tennis shot.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits before overcommitting.

Themes

exhaustion regret overexertion

Mood

reflective cautious

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

  • workplace burnout
  • personal goals
  • athletic training
  • creative projects

Key Concepts

psychology self-awareness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you know when to stop?
  • What signals indicate you’re overreaching?
A Different Perspective

Limits exist; ignoring them can cause harm.

2.2 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Herman Koch

Explore all 65 Herman Koch quotes

More Regret quotes

Browse all 9,960 Regret quotes