Awful Quote by Louis-Ferdinand Celine
“Maybe I'd never see him again... maybe he'd gone for good... swallowed up, body and soul, in the kind of stories you hear about... Ah, it's an awful thing... and being young doesn't help any... when you notice for the first time... the way you lose people as you go along ... the buddies you'll never see again... never again... when you notice that they've disappeared like dreams... that it's all over... finished... that you too will get lost someday... a long way off but inevitably... in the awful torrent of things and people... of the days and shapes... that pass... that never stop...”
About This Quote
Source Book: Journey to the End of the Night, Louis-Ferdinand Celine, 1932
The quote reflects on the inevitable loss of friends and the fleeting nature of life, especially felt in youth as one becomes aware of mortality and impermanence.
In simple terms: Life is fleeting and friends disappear.
Key Takeaway
Cherish relationships now.
Themes
mortality
loneliness
impermanence
youth
friendship
Mood
melancholic
reflective
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
emotional
When to use this quote
- college years
- first job
- moving to a new city
- retirement
- grieving a loss
Key Concepts
existentialism
nihilism
memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor memories of lost friends?
- What actions can you take to deepen current relationships?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the resilience and new connections that can arise after loss.
