Another chance Quote by John Updike
““Is it not the singularity of life that terrifies us? Is not the decisive difference between comedy and tragedy that tragedy denies us another chance? Shakespeare over and over demonstrates life’s singularity — the irrevocability of our decisions, hasty and even mad though they be. How solemn and huge and deeply pathetic our life does loom in its once-and doneness, how inexorably linear, even though our rotating, revolving planet offers us the cycles of the day and of the year to suggest that existence is intrinsically cyclical, a playful spin, and that there will always be, tomorrow morning or the next, another chance.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Singularity of Life” by John Updike, 1975
Life’s uniqueness and the finality of our choices create both awe and dread, contrasting comedy’s repeatability with tragedy’s irrevocability.
In simple terms: Life is unique and choices are final.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the weight of decisions.
Themes
existence
choice
tragedy
comedy
Mood
thoughtful
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
existentialism
fatalism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find meaning in irreversible choices?
- Can humor soften the fear of finality?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook the comfort of routine and resilience in repeated patterns.
