Rifle Quote by Robert Penn Warren
““To wake in some dawn and see / As though down a rifle barrel, lined up / Like sights, the self that was, the self that is, and there / Far off but in range, completing that alignment, your fate.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Self” from the collection “Nightmares and Dreamscapes”, 1972
Self‑reflection aligns past and present selves, revealing destiny as a target we can aim for.
In simple terms: Seeing oneself across time guides fate.
Key Takeaway
Align past and present to shape destiny.
Themes
self‑awareness
identity
destiny
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal growth
- creative writing
- therapy
Key Concepts
philosophical introspection
temporal continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your past shape your future goals?
- What does “alignment” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Alignment may be illusory, leading to over‑confidence.
![“[A]nd soon now we shall go out of the house and go into the convulsion of the world, out of history into history and the awful responsibility of Time.” quote by Robert Penn Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/857/robert-penn-warren-2118_awful_a-nd-soon-now-we-shall-go-out-of-the-hou_158285.jpg)
