Business Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
““When I got off the plane, after eleven hours of travel and forty years away, the man took my passport and asked me the purpose of my visit, I wrote in my daybook, "To mourn," and then, "To mourn try to live," he gave me a look and asked if I would consider that business or pleasure, I wrote, "Neither." "For how long do you plan to mourn and try to live?" "For as long as I can." "Are we talking about a weekend or a year?" I didn't write anything. The man said, "Next.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Mourning and living are intertwined; the purpose of existence is an ongoing balance of grief and vitality.
In simple terms: Mourning and living coexist.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both grief and life.
Themes
existential
grief
purpose
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
existential
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy
- creative writing
- personal growth
Key Concepts
mortality
meaning of life
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance sorrow and joy?
- What gives your life purpose beyond grief?
A Different Perspective
Mourning may dominate if not balanced with living.
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