Breaths Quote by John Lanchester
“It can be a way of knowledge, a path, an inspiration, a Tao, an ordering, a memory, a fantasy, a seduction, a prayer, a summoning, an incantation murmured under the breath as the torchlights sink lower and the forest looms taller and the wolves howl louder and the fire prepares for its submission to the encroaching dark.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Moneychangers, John Lanchester, 2010
The passage describes how language or art can serve many roles—knowledge, inspiration, ritual—especially in dark, mysterious settings.
In simple terms: Language can be many things, especially in eerie contexts.
Key Takeaway
Embrace multiple meanings of expression.
Themes
creativity
ritual
darkness
inspiration
memory
Mood
mysterious
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- storytelling
- ritual practice
- nighttime reflection
Key Concepts
semiotics
symbolism
mythmaking
Questions to Reflect On
- How does darkness shape meaning?
- What rituals give you power?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize darkness, overlooking practical clarity.
![“[Poetry] was a form of incantation, a means of welding the world inside his head to the one that surrounded him, words the fiery chain that bound it all together.” quote by Elizabeth Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/266/elizabeth-hand-29627_art_poetry-was-a-form-of-incantation-a-means_826614.jpg)
