Identity Quote by John Barth
““Unhappily, things get clearer as we go along. I perceive that I have no body. What's less, I've been speaking of myself without delight or alternative as self-consciousness pure and sour; I declare now that even that isn't true. I'm not aware of myself at all, as far as I know. I don't think. . . I know what I'm talking about.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The End of the Road, John Barth, 1970
The speaker reflects on the dissolution of self, suggesting that consciousness is an illusion and that identity is fluid and uncertain.
In simple terms: Self is an illusion; consciousness is unclear.
Key Takeaway
Question your assumptions about self.
Themes
identity
philosophy
existentialism
Mood
conflicted
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- meditation
- psychotherapy
- creative writing
- spiritual inquiry
Key Concepts
self-awareness
non-duality
illusion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to have no body?
- How does this view affect personal responsibility?
A Different Perspective
The claim of no self may overlook the functional role of self‑concept in navigating life.
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
