Astronomy Quote by Samuel R. Delany
““We're plotting to steal time itself from you… We're going to spike it to the floor as it slips by. And just as you come over to see why it's so still, we'll pull it out from under you--and send you spinning off around the galaxy's edge. We're planning to pluck all the best stars out of the sky and stuff them in our pockets... so that when we meet you once again and thrust our hands deep inside to hide our embarrassment, our fingertips will smart on them, as if they were desert grains, caught down in the seams, and we'll smile at you on your way to a glory that, for all our stellar thefts, we shall never be able to duplicate.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany, 1975
The passage uses cosmic theft metaphors to illustrate humanity’s attempt to control time and destiny, yet such control is illusory and leads to chaos.
In simple terms: We try to seize time and destiny, but it slips away.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty, avoid overreaching.
Themes
time
control
destiny
illusion
chaos
human ambition
Mood
reflective
cautionary
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal planning
- project management
- creative writing
- stress coping
Key Concepts
philosophy
science fiction
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of life can you let go?
- How does acknowledging uncertainty improve decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
Attempting total control can cause anxiety and failure.
