--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is certain is this, that I never…" description: "\"“What is certain is this, that I never rested in that way again, my feet obscenely resting on the earth, my arms on the handlebars and on my arms my he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/samuel-beckett-365_beckett_what-is-certain-is-this-that-i-never-res_839532.png" --- # What is certain is this, that I never rested in that way… ![“What is certain is this, that I never rested in that way again, my feet obscenely resting on the earth, my arms on the handlebars and on my arms my head, rocking and abandoned. It is indeed a delporable sight, a deplorable example, for the people, who so need to be encouraged, in their bitter…” quote by Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/samuel-beckett-365_beckett_what-is-certain-is-this-that-i-never-res_839532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/samuel-beckett-365_beckett_what-is-certain-is-this-that-i-never-res_839532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fa/samuel-beckett-365_beckett_what-is-certain-is-this-that-i-never-res_839532.png) > ““What is certain is this, that I never rested in that way again, my feet obscenely resting on the earth, my arms on the handlebars and on my arms my head, rocking and abandoned. It is indeed a delporable sight, a deplorable example, for the people, who so need to be encouraged, in their bitter toil, and to have before their eyes manifestations of strength only, of courage and joy, without which they might collapse, at the end of the day, and roll on the ground.”” [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. The passage describes a moment of physical and emotional exhaustion, urging people to find strength and courage in hardship. **In simple terms:** Even in fatigue, seek courage. Key Takeaway Find strength despite weariness. Themes hardship exhaustion encouragement strength courage resilience Mood somber reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - manual labor - long journeys - mental health crises - creative blocks Key Concepts existentialism human endurance Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain courage when exhausted? - What support systems help prevent collapse? A Different Perspective Physical limits may prevent recovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Encouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraged/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“She dragged me across the floor, stopping from time to time only to kick me. I didn't know our cows too could be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/she-dragged-me-across-the-floor-stopping-from-time-to-time-only-to/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. —Samuel Beckett, Worstward Ho (1983)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/ever-tried-ever-failed-no-matter-try-again-fail-again-fail-better-2/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Nothing is funnier than unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/nothing-is-funnier-than-unhappiness/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [All I know is what the words know, and dead things, and that makes a handsome little sum, with a beginning and a middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/all-i-know-is-what-the-words-know-and-dead-things-and-that-makes-a/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“HAMM: Scoundrel! Why did you engender me? NAGG: I didn't know. HAMM: What? What didn't you know? NAGG: That it'd be you. (Pause.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/hamm-scoundrel-why-did-you-engender-me-nagg-i-didn-t-know-hamm-what/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Look, she said stooping over her breasts, the haloes are darkening already. I summoned up my remaining strength and said, Abort, abort and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/look-she-said-stooping-over-her-breasts-the-haloes-are-darkening/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Vladimir:-Cuando uno piensa, oye. Estragon:-Cierto. Vladimir:-Y eso impide reflexionar. Estragon:-Claro. Vladimir:-Impide pensar. Estragon:-De todos modos se piensa. Vladimir:-¡Qué va!, resulta imposible. Estragon:-Eso es, contradigámonos.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/vladimir-cuando-uno-piensa-oye-estragon-cierto-vladimir-y-eso-impide/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Ada: And why life? (Pause.) Why life, Henry? (Pause.) Is there anyone about? Henry: Not a living soul. Ada: I thought as much. (Pause.)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/ada-and-why-life-pause-why-life-henry-pause-is-there-anyone-about/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Henry: I usen't to need anyone, just to myself, stories, there was a great one about an old fellow called Bolton, I never finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/henry-i-usen-t-to-need-anyone-just-to-myself-stories-there-was-a/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“que ferais-je sans ce monde que ferais-je sans ce monde sans visage sans questions où être ne dure qu'un instant où chaque instant verse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/que-ferais-je-sans-ce-monde-que-ferais-je-sans-ce-monde-sans-visage/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/the-sun-shone-having-no-alternative-on-the-nothing-new/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“I am interested in the shape of ideas, even if I do not believe in them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/i-am-interested-in-the-shape-of-ideas-even-if-i-do-not-believe-in-them/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“Je suis comme ça. Ou j'oublie tout de suite ou je n'oublie jamais." Samuel BECKETT, En attendant Godot I'm like that. Either I forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/je-suis-comme-a-ou-j-oublie-tout-de-suite-ou-je-n-oublie-jamais/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“But man is still today, at the age of twenty-five, at the mercy of an erection, physically too, from time to time, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/but-man-is-still-today-at-the-age-of-twenty-five-at-the-mercy-of-an/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) ## 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 Beckett quotes > [ I would say recently I've gotten back to perusing \[Samuel\] Beckett's novels. Listening to the way Donald Trump speaks without saying anything has made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/i-would-say-recently-i-ve-gotten-back-to-perusing-samuel-beckett-s/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [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/) > [“Je suis comme ça. Ou j'oublie tout de suite ou je n'oublie jamais." Samuel BECKETT, En attendant Godot I'm like that. Either I forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/je-suis-comme-a-ou-j-oublie-tout-de-suite-ou-je-n-oublie-jamais/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [In Kamby Bolongo Mean River damage and delusion walk hand in hand, and everything we think we know is gradually called into question. Reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/in-kamby-bolongo-mean-river-damage-and-delusion-walk-hand-in-hand-and/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) > [“I can’t do this anymore if it’s not with you. Fuck me straight to hell." ~Eve to Beckett”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/i-can-t-do-this-anymore-if-it-s-not-with-you-fuck-me-straight-to-hell/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett now got half the beating he used to get. Rick didn’t know that with every punch he was pounding his own coffin closed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-now-got-half-the-beating-he-used-to-get-rick-didn-t-know-that/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Beckett held his arms open for Kyle and gave her a gentle hug. “Good on you, Fairy Princess, making an honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/where-s-the-bride-to-be-beckett-held-his-arms-open-for-kyle-and-gave/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Beckett kissed each woman’s cheek and said, “Ladies, I was saying thank you for taking such beautiful care of my brother. You’re angels. Selfless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/beckett-kissed-each-woman-s-cheek-and-said-ladies-i-was-saying-thank/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“But he did see them dance. He laughed out loud remembering when he’d danced with Kyle. She hardly seemed the same person. And Cole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/but-he-did-see-them-dance-he-laughed-out-loud-remembering-when-he-d/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“Kyle’s shrill voice interrupted their moment. “Figured you two would turn this into a scout meeting. Will you get your asses up here? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/kyle-s-shrill-voice-interrupted-their-moment-figured-you-two-would/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“I think it's in Malone Dies that Beckett's creature is in a kind of prison or hospital. As I recall, he is visited twice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stern/i-think-it-s-in-malone-dies-that-beckett-s-creature-is-in-a-kind-of/) [Gerald Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stern/) > [Read the great stuff, but read the stuff that isn't so great, too. Great stuff is very discouraging. If you read only Beckett and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/read-the-great-stuff-but-read-the-stuff-that-isn-t-so-great-too-great/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [My exposure to Beckett and to late O'Neill was probably important right at the time I gave up poetry and the novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/my-exposure-to-beckett-and-to-late-o-neill-was-probably-important/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Beckett's 'Stories and Texts for Nothing' is probably my favorite book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-wright/beckett-s-stories-and-texts-for-nothing-is-probably-my-favorite-book/) [Franz Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-wright/) Browse all 193 Beckett quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is certain is this, that I never rested in that way again, my feet obscenely resting on the earth, my arms on the handlebars and on my arms my head, rocking and abandoned. 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