---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...So in his own way Guy Clinch…"
description: "\"...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central question of his time, a question you saw being asked and answered everywhere you looked, in ever..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg"
---

#  ...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central…

![“...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central question of his time, a question you saw being asked and answered everywhere you looked, in every headline and haircut: if, at any moment, nothing might matter, then who said that nothing didn't matter already?” quote by Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg)

> “...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central question of his time, a question you saw being asked and answered everywhere you looked, in every headline and haircut: if, at any moment, nothing might matter, then who said that nothing didn't matter already?”

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote questions the meaning of existence, suggesting that if nothing truly matters, then the claim that nothing matters is itself paradoxical.

**In simple terms:** If nothing matters, then saying that is contradictory.

Key Takeaway

Consider the paradox of meaninglessness.

Themes

existentialism meaning paradox philosophy

Mood

thoughtful melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- philosophical debate
- writing inspiration

Key Concepts

nihilism subjectivity human condition

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you find meaning in creating your own purpose?
- How does confronting nothingness affect daily choices?

A Different Perspective

The argument may overlook the comfort some find in nihilism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The central question is simply put: What did the president know and when did he know it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-central-question-is-simply-put-what-did-the-president-know-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The brain is a mystery; it has been and still will be. How does the brain produce thoughts? That is the central question and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-scott-sherrington/the-brain-is-a-mystery-it-has-been-and-still-will-be-how-does-the/)

[Charles Scott Sherrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-scott-sherrington/)

> [“The central question in ANY decision is, “What would love do now?” Love for yourself, and love for all others who are affected or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-central-question-in-any-decision-is-what-would-love-do-now-love/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [The central question is, is this guy right? Or is he mad? What do you, the reader, think about this? Which struck me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/the-central-question-is-is-this-guy-right-or-is-he-mad-what-do-you/)

[Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/)

> [It doesn't matter what I said!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-marella/it-doesn-t-matter-what-i-said/)

[Santino Marella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-marella/)

> [“You said you didn’t want to waste your time on people who aren’t going to matter,” I said, and he nodded. “But how do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/you-said-you-didn-t-want-to-waste-your-time-on-people-who-aren-t/)

[Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/)

> [A very small matter, when all is said; only a fool would be concerned about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/a-very-small-matter-when-all-is-said-only-a-fool-would-be-concerned/)

[Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/)

> [When Bishop Berkeley said "there was no matter." And proved it--'t was no matter what he said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/when-bishop-berkeley-said-there-was-no-matter-and-proved-it-t-was-no/)

[Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/)

> [“No matter what,” he said, his voice fierce and strong and rumbling through me. “You told me I was home to you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/no-matter-what-he-said-his-voice-fierce-and-strong-and-rumbling/)

[Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/)

> [“When he was in the army he'd picked up a great many girls: sometimes nothing happened except a lot of talk, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/when-he-was-in-the-army-he-d-picked-up-a-great-many-girls-sometimes/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [“It doesn't matter what they do to me,' he said. 'It might even be better if they—stop me. But I need to know you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-sun/it-doesn-t-matter-what-they-do-to-me-he-said-it-might-even-be-better/)

[Amanda Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-sun/)

> [“I just want to matter,' he said, unsmiling. It was like pulling a curtain back, peering behind a mask made of smiles and quips.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-lloyd-jones/i-just-want-to-matter-he-said-unsmiling-it-was-like-pulling-a-curtain/)

[Emily Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-lloyd-jones/)

> [No matter what is said or done. Even if its going wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-van-buuren/no-matter-what-is-said-or-done-even-if-its-going-wrong/)

[Armin Van Buuren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armin-van-buuren/)

> [And the sound of your heart," he continued. "It's the most significant sound in my world. I'm so attuned to it now, I swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/and-the-sound-of-your-heart-he-continued-it-s-the-most-significant/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

> [“It doesn't matter who said it, as long as it changed you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-doesn-t-matter-who-said-it-as-long-as-it-changed-you/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

## More by Martin Amis

> [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [“barrios; each barrio has two or three gangs, and all the gangs are theoretically”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/barrios-each-barrio-has-two-or-three-gangs-and-all-the-gangs-are/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [“If we all downed tools and joined hands for ten minutes and stopped believing in money, then money would no longer exist. We never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/if-we-all-downed-tools-and-joined-hands-for-ten-minutes-and-stopped/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [When I see a lot of young faces in the audience, it's just sort of sinking in how important that is. Because you're old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/when-i-see-a-lot-of-young-faces-in-the-audience-it-s-just-sort-of/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [“I was informed by my viscera that now was the time to put my arm around her shoulders. I ignored them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-was-informed-by-my-viscera-that-now-was-the-time-to-put-my-arm/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [You use a different part of your heart with girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/you-use-a-different-part-of-your-heart-with-girls/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [It's becoming clearer and clearer to me that the world is there to be celebrated by writers, and in fact this is what all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/it-s-becoming-clearer-and-clearer-to-me-that-the-world-is-there-to-be/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [In her final months Princess Diana was being shat upon by the tabloids -- basically for sleeping with an Arab. When she died, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/in-her-final-months-princess-diana-was-being-shat-upon-by-the/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [If you feel you have a strong constituency among the young, you can really die happy, because the great unanswered question, the only valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/if-you-feel-you-have-a-strong-constituency-among-the-young-you-can/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [My life looked good on paper - where, in fact, almost all of it was being lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/my-life-looked-good-on-paper-where-in-fact-almost-all-of-it-was-being/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [I say, 'If I had a serious brain injury I might well write a children's book', but otherwise the idea of being conscious of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-say-if-i-had-a-serious-brain-injury-i-might-well-write-a-children-s/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [The future could go this way, that way. The future's futures have never looked so rocky. Don't put money on it. Take my advice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-future-could-go-this-way-that-way-the-future-s-futures-have-never/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [Each life is a game of chess that went to hell on the seventh move(...)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/each-life-is-a-game-of-chess-that-went-to-hell-on-the-seventh-move/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

> [ “There exists a subterranean world where pathological fantasies disguised as ideas are churned out by crooks and half-educated fanatics \[notably the lower clergy\] for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/there-exists-a-subterranean-world-where-pathological-fantasies/)

[Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

[Explore all 393 Martin Amis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/)

## More Asked quotes

> [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/)

[Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/)

> [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/)

[Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/)

> [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/)

Robert Cory Molloy

> [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/)

[Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/)

> [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/)

[Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/)

> [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/)

[Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/)

> [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/)

[Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/)

> [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/)

[Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/)

> [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/)

[Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/)

> [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/)

[Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/)

> [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/)

[Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/)

> [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/)

[Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/)

> [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central question of his time, a question you saw being asked and answered everywhere you looked, in every headline and haircut: if, at any moment, nothing might matter, then who said that nothing didn't matter already?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Amis"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted-the-central-question-of-his/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Asked"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted-the-central-question-of-his/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/martin-amis-704_guy_so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted_1760206.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...So in his own way Guy Clinch confronted the central question of his time, a question you saw being asked…” — Martin Amis",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Martin Amis",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "...So in his own way Guy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted-the-central-question-of-his/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/so-in-his-own-way-guy-clinch-confronted-the-central-question-of-his/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
