--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am in terror of the infinity before me…" description: "\"I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge I can take on.\" — Samuel R. Delany" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png" --- # I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come… ![“I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge I can take on.” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png) > “I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge I can take on.” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing an unknown infinite expanse can be terrifying, especially after emerging from a limited past. **In simple terms:** Infinity ahead feels scary after a confined past. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty as a path to growth. Themes existential fear infinity growth Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - personal loss - spiritual quests Key Concepts philosophy psychology cosmic perspective Questions to Reflect On - What does the “infinity before me” represent for you? - How can you turn fear of the unknown into curiosity? A Different Perspective The infinite may be overwhelming without a framework for meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Infinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infinity/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [“I am limited, finite, and fixed. I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-am-limited-finite-and-fixed-i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [It's the bringing together of knowledge and wisdom that is a great part - perhaps the greatest part - of our life's journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/it-s-the-bringing-together-of-knowledge-and-wisdom-that-is-a-great/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) > [“There is a wide yawning black infinity. In every direction the extension is endless, the sensation of depth is overwhelming. And the darkness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/there-is-a-wide-yawning-black-infinity-in-every-direction-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“We may like to combat disease or even want to cure death. We may try to surf on the waves of infinity and attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/we-may-like-to-combat-disease-or-even-want-to-cure-death-we-may-try/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“It is—their unconsciousness. Their lack of knowledge about others. Their not being aware of what they do to others, the destruction they have caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/it-is-their-unconsciousness-their-lack-of-knowledge-about-others/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You can love infinity, eternity, Scotty dogs, sports, work, play, the feelings of being alive, the earth, the sky, the fire, the wind ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-love-infinity-eternity-scotty-dogs-sports-work-play-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [He who seeks eternity should look at the sky, he who seeks the moment, should look at the cloud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-couto/he-who-seeks-eternity-should-look-at-the-sky-he-who-seeks-the-moment/) [Mia Couto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-couto/) > [To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/to-see-a-world-in-a-grain-of-sand-and-heaven-in-a-wild-flower-hold/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [Through concentration we become one-pointed and through meditation we expand our consciousness into the Vast. But in contemplation we grow into the Vast itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/through-concentration-we-become-one-pointed-and-through-meditation-we/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [We are travelers on a cosmic journey,stardust,swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-are-travelers-on-a-cosmic-journey-stardust-swirling-and-dancing-in/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not touch the floor, about the final home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-have-heard-them-preach-when-i-sat-in-the-pew-and-my-feet-did-not/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [Awareness is everything. Hallie once pointed out to me that people worry a lot more about the eternity \*after\* their deaths than the eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/awareness-is-everything-hallie-once-pointed-out-to-me-that-people/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Think of the Earth as a turning point in eternity. Think of the Earth as a meeting point in infinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/think-of-the-earth-as-a-turning-point-in-eternity-think-of-the-earth/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [My very first real job in the industry was as a production assistant on a show called 'Infinity Factory' in 1976.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/my-very-first-real-job-in-the-industry-was-as-a-production-assistant/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. They're mysteries when the book begins, and they're mysteries when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-number-of-things-in-dhalgren-are-just-meant-to-function-as/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The pulp hero, though he may be a renegade, is a guy who doesn't feel. Anything. Ever. And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge I can take on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. Delany" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me-having-come-through-the-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me-having-come-through-the-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/samuel-r-delany-2591_behinds_i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me_2594811.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am in terror of the infinity before me, having come through the one behind bringing no knowledge I can…” — Samuel R. Delany", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel R. Delany", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am in terror of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me-having-come-through-the-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-am-in-terror-of-the-infinity-before-me-having-come-through-the-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```