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Buried Quote by Samuel Beckett

“My life, my life, now I speak of it as of something over, now as of a joke which still goes on, and it is neither, for at the same time it is over and it goes on, and is there any tense for that? Watch wound and buried by the watchmaker, before he died, whose ruined works will one day speak of…” quote by Samuel Beckett
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“My life, my life, now I speak of it as of something over, now as of a joke which still goes on, and it is neither, for at the same time it is over and it goes on, and is there any tense for that? Watch wound and buried by the watchmaker, before he died, whose ruined works will one day speak of God, to the worms.”

Samuel Beckett

About This Quote

Source Play: Endgame, 1957

Life’s paradoxes blur past and present, making it hard to label experiences as finished or ongoing.

In simple terms: Life is both over and ongoing.

Key Takeaway

Accept ambiguity in life’s narrative.

Themes

existentialism absurdity temporal paradox

Mood

thoughtful melancholic

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • theatre
  • personal introspection
  • creative writing
  • philosophy seminars

Key Concepts

philosophical reflection literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

  • What moments feel both finished and alive?
  • How do you cope with life’s contradictions?
A Different Perspective

The abstract nature may alienate some readers.

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