Air Quote by Jane Hirshfield
“Everything has two endings- a horse, a piece of string, a phone call. Before a life, air. And after. As silence is not silence, but a limit of hearing.”
About This Quote
Life and its components have beginnings and endings; after death, silence persists, yet it is merely a boundary of perception rather than true emptiness.
In simple terms: All things end; silence is a perceptual limit.
Key Takeaway
Endings define the limits of experience.
Themes
mortality
silence
perception
philosophy
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical reflection
When to use this quote
- grieving a loved one
- contemplating the end of a project
Key Concepts
existentialism
epistemology
Practical Applications
- reflect on what you can still hear/feel before silence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does 'silence is not silence' suggest about awareness?
- How do we find meaning in endings?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook that silence can also be a space for inner listening.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)