Long silence Quote by Marie Phillips
““Hello," She said. There was a long silence. "Hello," said Artemis again. "Are you talking to me?" said the tree. It had a faint Australian accent. "Yes," said Artemis. "I am Artemis." If the tree experienced any recognition, it didn't show it. "I'm the goddess of hunting and chastity," said Artemis. Another silence. The the tree said, "I'm Kate. I work in mergers and acquisitions for Goldman Sachs." "Do you know what happened to you, Kate?" said Artemis. The longest silence of all. Artemis was just about to repeat the question when the tree replied. "I think I've turned into a tree," it said. "Yes," said Artemis. "You have." "Thank God for that," said the tree. "I thought I was going mad." Then the tree seemed to reconsider this. "Actually," it said, "I think I would rather be mad." Then, with hope in its voice: "Are you sure I haven't gone mad?" "I'm sure," said Artemis. "You're a tree. A eucalyptus. Subgenus of mallee. Variegated leaves." "Oh," said the tree. "Sorry," said Artemis. "But with variegated leaves?" "Yes," said Artemis. "Green and Yellow." The tree seemed pleased. "Oh well, there's that to be grateful for," it said.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Artemis and the Tree”, 2015
A surreal dialogue explores identity, transformation, and the absurdity of corporate life through mythic characters.
In simple terms: A mythic goddess talks to a corporate‑type tree about being human.
Key Takeaway
Embrace absurdity to question self‑definition.
Themes
identity
absurdity
myth
corporate culture
Mood
playful
thoughtful
Type
literary
humorous
When to use this quote
- office satire
- creative writing workshops
- role‑playing games
Key Concepts
existentialism
post‑modernism
roleplay
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the tree’s corporate identity reveal about modern work?
- How does myth help us confront personal change?
A Different Perspective
The humor may mask deeper existential dread.
