--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As he said this, looking at her directly…" description: "\"“As he said this, looking at her directly, with no particular challenge in his voice, she believed in him completely, he and his parents, the congregat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/ian-mcewan-494_fond-memories_as-he-said-this-looking-at-her-directly_1710582.png" --- # As he said this, looking at her directly, with no… ![“As he said this, looking at her directly, with no particular challenge in his voice, she believed in him completely, he and his parents, the congregation and the elders knew what was right for them. She felt unpleasantly light-headed, empitied out, all meaning gone. The blasphemous notion came…” quote by Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/ian-mcewan-494_fond-memories_as-he-said-this-looking-at-her-directly_1710582.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/ian-mcewan-494_fond-memories_as-he-said-this-looking-at-her-directly_1710582.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/938/ian-mcewan-494_fond-memories_as-he-said-this-looking-at-her-directly_1710582.png) > ““As he said this, looking at her directly, with no particular challenge in his voice, she believed in him completely, he and his parents, the congregation and the elders knew what was right for them. She felt unpleasantly light-headed, empitied out, all meaning gone. The blasphemous notion came into her that it didn't much matter either way whether the boy lived or died. Everything would be much the same. Profound sorrow, bitter regret perhaps, fond memories, then life would plunge on and all three would mean less and less as those who loved him aged and died, until they meant nothing at all. Religions, moral systems, her own included, were like peaks in a dense mountain range seen from a great distance, none obviously higher, more important, truer than another. What was to judge?”” [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character confronts existential doubt, seeing moral systems as equally arbitrary, feeling detached and indifferent to life’s outcomes. **In simple terms:** Questioning the meaning of moral choices and feeling indifferent. Key Takeaway Reflect on personal values and purpose. Themes existentialism morality detachment Mood somber introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - grief - family loss - spiritual crisis - life decisions Key Concepts philosophical nihilism ethical relativism Questions to Reflect On - What values anchor you in uncertainty? - How does loss shape your moral view? A Different Perspective Such detachment can lead to apathy and hinder compassionate action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aged Died](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aged-died-1243002/) [Died Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/died-meant-1243001/) [Died Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/died-profound-1242999/) [Fond memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fond-memories/) [Lived Died](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-died-484125/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Profound Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound-sorrow-1243000/) ## Related quotes > [“What is your name?' she asked. The youth ignored her, lowering his eyelids against the sun. She repeated her question. Again he ignored her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-jordan/what-is-your-name-she-asked-the-youth-ignored-her-lowering-his/) [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) > [I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/i-hurry-to-express-to-you-and-your-fellow-citizens-my-profound-sorrow/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“Everything that lived, died.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-pitts-jr/everything-that-lived-died/) [Leonard Pitts Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-pitts-jr/) > [ \[When I die\] if I leave behind me ten pounds...you and all mankind \[may\] bear witness against me, that I have lived and died… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/when-i-die-if-i-leave-behind-me-ten-pounds-you-and-all-mankind-may/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [“There are so many people who have lived and died before you. You will never have a new problem. Somebody wrote the answer down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/there-are-so-many-people-who-have-lived-and-died-before-you-you-will/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Finally on Sunday morning, October 7, 1849, "He became quiet and seemed to rest for a short time. Then, gently, moving his head," he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/finally-on-sunday-morning-october-7-1849-he-became-quiet-and-seemed/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [You haven't lived until you died in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-woollcott/you-haven-t-lived-until-you-died-in-new-york/) [Alexander Woollcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-woollcott/) > [Sixty-five seconds," he said. "You weren't breathing for sixty-five seconds after we found you. I lived and died during each one of them." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/sixty-five-seconds-he-said-you-weren-t-breathing-for-sixty-five/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“He had never cared if his victims lived or died once he was through with them. But not her. He couldn’t allow her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-white/he-had-never-cared-if-his-victims-lived-or-died-once-he-was-through/) [Elaine White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-white/) > [“Something or someone lived or died so you could have this life. The mountain of the dead. They left you into the daylight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/something-or-someone-lived-or-died-so-you-could-have-this-life-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Until two days ago what had driven him was the will to survive: deep, animal, full of rage—but always part of him had not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/until-two-days-ago-what-had-driven-him-was-the-will-to-survive-deep/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“God, what did any of it matter, in the end? You lived; you died. You were as indistinguishable from a distance as one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/god-what-did-any-of-it-matter-in-the-end-you-lived-you-died-you-were/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) > [“It was all a big joke. I could see that now. There was no rhyme or reason to whether we lived or died. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gratz/it-was-all-a-big-joke-i-could-see-that-now-there-was-no-rhyme-or/) [Alan Gratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gratz/) > [“A man lived or died according to his decisions in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/a-man-lived-or-died-according-to-his-decisions-in-life/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Nobody cared if he lived or died, and the feeling was fucking mutual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/nobody-cared-if-he-lived-or-died-and-the-feeling-was-fucking-mutual/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Ian McEwan > [“As you will see, we do not believe that artists have an obligation to strike up attitudes to the war. Indeed, they are wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-you-will-see-we-do-not-believe-that-artists-have-an-obligation-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [You could say that all novels are spy novels and all novelists are spy masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/you-could-say-that-all-novels-are-spy-novels-and-all-novelists-are/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-ve-never-had-a-moment-s-doubt-i-love-you-i-believe-in-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“It is shaming sometimes, how the body will not, or cannot, lie about emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-is-shaming-sometimes-how-the-body-will-not-or-cannot-lie-about/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Perhaps it's one of those cases of a microcosm giving you the whole world. Like a spode dinner plate. Or a single cell. Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/perhaps-it-s-one-of-those-cases-of-a-microcosm-giving-you-the-whole/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [Who you get, and how it works out- there's so much luck involved, as well as the million branching consequences of your conscious choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/who-you-get-and-how-it-works-out-there-s-so-much-luck-involved-as/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“On Chesil Beach he could have called out to Florence, he could have gone after her. He did not know, or would not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/on-chesil-beach-he-could-have-called-out-to-florence-he-could-have/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It was always the view of my parents...that hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-was-always-the-view-of-my-parents-that-hot-weather-encouraged/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-apologize-for-being-obvious-but-every-time-i-watch-the-curtain-come/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I would rather be physically disabled obviously than mentally. I would rather be paraplegic than nuts. And it is a terrifying prospect and actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-would-rather-be-physically-disabled-obviously-than-mentally-i-would/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Words, as I'm beginning to appreciate, can make things true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/words-as-i-m-beginning-to-appreciate-can-make-things-true/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I couldn't think about novels at all. It seemed the only writing that was appropriate to that horrendous event was journalism, reportage. And, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-couldn-t-think-about-novels-at-all-it-seemed-the-only-writing-that/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I did not kill my father, but I sometimes felt I had helped him on his way. And but for the fact that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/i-did-not-kill-my-father-but-i-sometimes-felt-i-had-helped-him-on-his/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) [Explore all 496 Ian McEwan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More Fond memories quotes > [I have fond memories of our concert performances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/momo-hirai/i-have-fond-memories-of-our-concert-performances/) [Momo Hirai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/momo-hirai/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Usually, I come for film promotions or events, but I have so many fond memories of Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/usually-i-come-for-film-promotions-or-events-but-i-have-so-many-fond/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [Every year since I was very small, my family - Mum, Dad, sister Charlie-Ann and brother Stephen - and I have been holidaying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pixie-lott/every-year-since-i-was-very-small-my-family-mum-dad-sister-charlie/) [Pixie Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pixie-lott/) > [Just going to games from a young age with my dad, watching Tottenham as often as I could, celebrating in my front room, singing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-winks/just-going-to-games-from-a-young-age-with-my-dad-watching-tottenham/) [Harry Winks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-winks/) > [I've been lucky to be a part of many blockbuster movies... in which it's hard to get to that level of being memorable, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-pullman/i-ve-been-lucky-to-be-a-part-of-many-blockbuster-movies-in-which-it-s/) [Bill Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-pullman/) > [There are some delightful places in this world which have a sensual charm for the eyes. One loves them with a physical love. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/there-are-some-delightful-places-in-this-world-which-have-a-sensual/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [My adult life, I grew up in Chicago. When I go back there, I always have fond memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/my-adult-life-i-grew-up-in-chicago-when-i-go-back-there-i-always-have/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [I used to work in hotels and have very fond memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/i-used-to-work-in-hotels-and-have-very-fond-memories/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) > [I have fond memories of my kabaddi exploits at Lawrence School. I also enjoyed tennis and swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anand-mahindra/i-have-fond-memories-of-my-kabaddi-exploits-at-lawrence-school-i-also/) [Anand Mahindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anand-mahindra/) > [I have so many fond memories of the Tied Test, and I can't wait to come back to Brisbane. One thing that stands out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garfield-sobers/i-have-so-many-fond-memories-of-the-tied-test-and-i-can-t-wait-to/) [Garfield Sobers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garfield-sobers/) > [I have fond memories of Chris Penn, who's sadly not with us. He always made me laugh - it was great to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/i-have-fond-memories-of-chris-penn-who-s-sadly-not-with-us-he-always/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [“Yeah, just what I needed, a massive three-day Hostess binge, followed by a week of trying to replicate recipes so that if no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/yeah-just-what-i-needed-a-massive-three-day-hostess-binge-followed-by/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [I have such fond memories of watching 'Doctor Who' when I was a kid and growing up, that if I've left anybody anywhere with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tennant/i-have-such-fond-memories-of-watching-doctor-who-when-i-was-a-kid-and/) [David Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tennant/) > [I mean, I think everybody has fond memories of 'Masters of the Universe.' It was just one of the things in the '80s. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-mccreary/i-mean-i-think-everybody-has-fond-memories-of-masters-of-the-universe/) [Bear McCreary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-mccreary/) [Browse all 143 Fond memories quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fond-memories/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As he said this, looking at her directly, with no particular challenge in his voice, she believed in him completely, he and his parents, the congregation and the elders knew what was right for them. She felt unpleasantly light-headed, empitied out, all meaning gone. The blasphemous notion came into her that it didn't much matter either way whether the boy lived or died. Everything would be much the same. Profound sorrow, bitter regret perhaps, fond memories, then life would plunge on and all three would mean less and less as those who loved him aged and died, until they meant nothing at all. 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