Autobiography Quote by Quentin Crisp
““An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Naked Civil Servant, 1968
An autobiography is a living record that ends abruptly, missing the final chapter of life.
In simple terms: Life’s story stops before the final page.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the unfinished nature of life.
Themes
mortality
self‑reflection
literary form
life narrative
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
melancholic
Type
literary
existential
When to use this quote
- Writing memoirs
- reflecting on legacy
- planning end‑of‑life matters
- sharing personal histories
Key Concepts
Existentialism
autobiographical limits
human finitude
Questions to Reflect On
- What part of your story will live on?
- How do we honor unfinished narratives?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the ongoing influence after death.
![“[Jürgen Habermas' obituary to friend and philosopher, Richard Rorty] One small autobiographical piece by Rorty bears the title 'Wild Orchids and Trotsky.' In it, Rorty describes how as a youth he ambled around the blooming hillside in north-west New Jersey, and breathed in the stunning odour of…” quote by Jürgen Habermas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a33/jurgen-habermas-12339_atheism_j-rgen-habermas-obituary-to-friend-and-p_673632.jpg)
