Burn Quote by Marguerite Duras
““Listen to me. I know something else. It will begin again. 200,000 dead and 80,000 wounded in nine seconds. Those are the official figures. It will begin again. It will be 10,000 degrees on the earth. Ten thousand suns, people will say. The asphalt will burn. Chaos will prevail. An entire city will be lifted off the ground, and fall back to earth in ashes…I meet you. I remember you. Who are you? You’re destroying me. You’re good for me. How could I know this city was tailor-made for love? How could I know you fit my body like a glove? I like you. How unlikely. I like you. How slow all of a sudden. How sweet. You cannot know. You’re destroying me. You’re good for me. You’re destroying me. You’re good for me. I have time. Please, devour me. Deform me to the point of ugliness. Why not you?””
About This Quote
Source Film: The Exterminating Angel, 1962
A surreal monologue expressing love, destruction, and yearning in a chaotic, apocalyptic setting.
In simple terms: A lover feels both drawn to and threatened by another amidst imagined catastrophe.
Key Takeaway
Embrace love despite fear of ruin.
Themes
love
destruction
apocalypse
longing
paradox
Mood
intense
conflicted
poetic
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- intimate confession
- post‑apocalyptic fantasy
- psychological drama
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
surrealism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the speaker’s paradox reveal about desire?
- How does chaos amplify intimacy?
A Different Perspective
The intensity may overwhelm readers seeking calm.
