--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I began playing with the cries, a little…" description: "\"“I began playing with the cries, a little in the same way as I had played with the song, on, back, on, back, if that may be called playing. As long as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/samuel-beckett-365_cries_i-began-playing-with-the-cries-a-little_687125.jpg" --- # I began playing with the cries, a little in the same way… ![“I began playing with the cries, a little in the same way as I had played with the song, on, back, on, back, if that may be called playing. As long as I kept walking I didn’t hear them, because of the footsteps. But as soon as I halted again I heard them again, a little fainter each time…” quote by Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/samuel-beckett-365_cries_i-began-playing-with-the-cries-a-little_687125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/samuel-beckett-365_cries_i-began-playing-with-the-cries-a-little_687125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/samuel-beckett-365_cries_i-began-playing-with-the-cries-a-little_687125.jpg) > ““I began playing with the cries, a little in the same way as I had played with the song, on, back, on, back, if that may be called playing. As long as I kept walking I didn’t hear them, because of the footsteps. But as soon as I halted again I heard them again, a little fainter each time, admittedly, but what does it matter, faint or loud, cry is cry, all that matters is that it should cease. For years I thought they would cease. Now I don’t think so any more. I could have done with other loves perhaps. But there it is, either you love or you don’t.”” [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes hearing cries that fade when moving, but return when stopping, symbolizing persistent suffering that cannot be fully silenced. **In simple terms:** Suffering persists despite attempts to ignore it. Key Takeaway Accept that some pains endure. Themes suffering existence human condition acceptance loneliness Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - Coping with grief - mental health therapy - philosophical reflection - creative writing - personal introspection Key Concepts Existentialism absurdity psychological persistence Questions to Reflect On - What does “cry” represent in your life? - Can acceptance reduce the impact of persistent suffering? A Different Perspective The notion that cries may never cease can lead to hopelessness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cries/) [Footsteps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/footsteps/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Playing Cries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-cries-5425535/) [Thought Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-cease-5425536/) ## Related quotes > [We have time to grow old. The air is full of our cries. But habit is a great deadener.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-have-time-to-grow-old-the-air-is-full-of-our-cries-but-habit-is-a/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [ “Perhaps he is crying out for help all this time and I do not hear him! \[Pause.\] I do of course hear cries. \[Pause.\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/perhaps-he-is-crying-out-for-help-all-this-time-and-i-do-not-hear-him/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [...and a dream away in space with neither her nor there where all the footsteps ever fell can never fare nearer to anywhere nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/and-a-dream-away-in-space-with-neither-her-nor-there-where-all-the/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [My Heart Is Dead But The Dead Heart Still Cries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanju/my-heart-is-dead-but-the-dead-heart-still-cries/) [Sanju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanju/) > [When a woman cries it changes nothing or dews things.but when a man cries it changes alot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakre-basit-babatunde/when-a-woman-cries-it-changes-nothing-or-dews-things-but-when-a-man/) [Bakre Basit Babatunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakre-basit-babatunde/) > [In the day she looks so joyful, but within the night she slowly cries herself to sleep. If you are one of those girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/in-the-day-she-looks-so-joyful-but-within-the-night-she-slowly-cries/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [Give to a pig when it grunts and a child when it cries , and you will have a fine pig and a bad child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danish-proverb/give-to-a-pig-when-it-grunts-and-a-child-when-it-cries-and-you-will/) [Danish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danish-proverb/) > [A child in the U.S. screams & cries when their parents say no for them getting the latest apple device just because other friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/a-child-in-the-u-s-screams-cries-when-their-parents-say-no-for-them/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Ive learned¦ that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-even-when-you-think-you-have-no-more-to-give-when-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't ask me about emotions in the Welsh dressing room. I'm someone who cries when he watches Little House on the Prairie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-norster/don-t-ask-me-about-emotions-in-the-welsh-dressing-room-i-m-someone/) [Bob Norster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-norster/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [If a girl cries for you, then think surely she loves you truly... ... and if a boy cries for you then don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-a-girl-cries-for-you-then-think-surely-she-loves-you-truly-and-if/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [One cries when one is sad, for example I cry because others are stupid and that makes me sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-cries-when-one-is-sad-for-example-i-cry-because-others-are-stupid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The nature cries and smiles with you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hottiedevil/the-nature-cries-and-smiles-with-you/) [HOttieDeviL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hottiedevil/) ## More by Samuel Beckett > [“It was December, I had never felt so cold, the eel soup lay heavy on my stomach, I was afraid I'd die, I turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-was-december-i-had-never-felt-so-cold-the-eel-soup-lay-heavy-on-my/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“To be always what I am - and so changed from what I was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-be-always-what-i-am-and-so-changed-from-what-i-was/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [To what will love not stoop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/to-what-will-love-not-stoop/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [With all this darkness round me I feel less alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/with-all-this-darkness-round-me-i-feel-less-alone/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“You may say it is all in my head, and indeed sometimes it seems to me I am in a head and that these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/you-may-say-it-is-all-in-my-head-and-indeed-sometimes-it-seems-to-me/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Here he stood. Here he sat. Here he knelt. Here he lay. Here he moved, to and fro, from the door to the window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/here-he-stood-here-he-sat-here-he-knelt-here-he-lay-here-he-moved-to/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/what-are-we-doing-here-that-is-the-question-and-we-are-blessed-in/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-shall-state-silences-more-competently-than-ever-a-better-man/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [It is useless not to seek, not to want, for when you cease to seek you start to find, and when you cease to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-is-useless-not-to-seek-not-to-want-for-when-you-cease-to-seek-you/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [We are not saints, but we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-saints-but-we-have-kept-our-appointment-how-many-people/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [The new light above my table is a great improvement. With all this darkness around me I feel less alone. (Pause.) In a way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/the-new-light-above-my-table-is-a-great-improvement-with-all-this/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I lay down across her with my face in her breasts and my hand on her. We lay there without moving. But under us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-lay-down-across-her-with-my-face-in-her-breasts-and-my-hand-on-her/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Women are all the bloody sameyou can't love for five minutes without wanting it abolished in brats and house bloody wifery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/women-are-all-the-bloody-sameyou-can-t-love-for-five-minutes-without/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“ESTRAGON: Do you think God sees me? VLADIMIR: You must close your eyes. Estragon closes his eyes, staggers worse. ESTRAGON: (stopping, brandishing his fists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/estragon-do-you-think-god-sees-me-vladimir-you-must-close-your-eyes/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Deplorable mania, when something happens, to inquire what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/deplorable-mania-when-something-happens-to-inquire-what/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) [Explore all 609 Samuel Beckett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## More Cries quotes > [The nature cries and smiles with you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hottiedevil/the-nature-cries-and-smiles-with-you/) [HOttieDeviL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hottiedevil/) > [One cries when one is sad, for example I cry because others are stupid and that makes me sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-cries-when-one-is-sad-for-example-i-cry-because-others-are-stupid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a girl cries for you, then think surely she loves you truly... ... and if a boy cries for you then don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-a-girl-cries-for-you-then-think-surely-she-loves-you-truly-and-if/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Don't ask me about emotions in the Welsh dressing room. I'm someone who cries when he watches Little House on the Prairie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-norster/don-t-ask-me-about-emotions-in-the-welsh-dressing-room-i-m-someone/) [Bob Norster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-norster/) > [Ive learned¦ that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ive-learned-that-even-when-you-think-you-have-no-more-to-give-when-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [A child in the U.S. screams & cries when their parents say no for them getting the latest apple device just because other friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/a-child-in-the-u-s-screams-cries-when-their-parents-say-no-for-them/) [C-DASH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-dash/) > [Give to a pig when it grunts and a child when it cries , and you will have a fine pig and a bad child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danish-proverb/give-to-a-pig-when-it-grunts-and-a-child-when-it-cries-and-you-will/) [Danish Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danish-proverb/) > [In the day she looks so joyful, but within the night she slowly cries herself to sleep. If you are one of those girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/in-the-day-she-looks-so-joyful-but-within-the-night-she-slowly-cries/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [When a woman cries it changes nothing or dews things.but when a man cries it changes alot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakre-basit-babatunde/when-a-woman-cries-it-changes-nothing-or-dews-things-but-when-a-man/) [Bakre Basit Babatunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakre-basit-babatunde/) > [My Heart Is Dead But The Dead Heart Still Cries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanju/my-heart-is-dead-but-the-dead-heart-still-cries/) [Sanju](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanju/) > [“Lonely cries, and she was lonely, not for friends but for a time that hadn't been violated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/lonely-cries-and-she-was-lonely-not-for-friends-but-for-a-time-that/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > ['I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/i-don-t-need-brains-says-the-billionaire-contemptuously-i-m-brainy/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs, The bark on the tree was just a little bit softer. While the wolf waits below, hungry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/if-only-if-only-the-woodpecker-sighs-the-bark-on-the-tree-was-just-a/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) [Browse all 363 Cries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I began playing with the cries, a little in the same way as I had played with the song, on, back, on, back, if that may be called playing. As long as I kept walking I didn’t hear them, because of the footsteps. But as soon as I halted again I heard them again, a little fainter each time, admittedly, but what does it matter, faint or loud, cry is cry, all that matters is that it should cease. For years I thought they would cease. Now I don’t think so any more. I could have done with other loves perhaps. 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