Existence Quote by Isaac Marion
““Everything dies eventually. We all know that. People, cities, whole civilizations. Nothing lasts. So if existence was just binary, dead or alive, here or not here, what would be the fucking point in anything?" She looks up at some falling leaves and puts out her hand to catch one, a flaming red maple. "My mom used to say that's why we have memory. And the opposite of memory - hope. So things that are gone can still matter. So we can build off our pasts and make futures." She twirls the leaf in front of her face, back and forth. "Mom said life only makes any sense if we can see time how God does. Past, present and future all at once." I allow myself to look at Julie. She sees my tears and tries to wipe one away. "So what's the future?" I ask, not flinching as her fingers brush my eye. "I can see the past and the present, but what's the future?" "Well . . . ," she says with a broken laugh. "I guess that's the tricky part. The past is made out of facts . . . I guess the future is just hope." "Or fear." "No." She shakes her head firmly and sticks the leaf in my hair. "Hope.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of M by Isaac Marion, 2018
Existence feels meaningless without continuity; memory links past to hope, allowing past loss to shape future meaning.
In simple terms: Memory gives past meaning; hope builds future.
Cultivate memory and hope to find purpose.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- legacy projects
- mindfulness practice
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What memories give you hope?
- How do you balance past pain with future optimism?
Hope may be fragile and not guarantee future clarity.