--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There comes a time when the blankness of…" description: "\"There comes a time when the blankness of the future is just so extreme, it's like such a black wall of nothingness. Not of bad things like a cave full ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/stephen-fry-573_alive_there-comes-a-time-when-the-blankness-of_2169486.png" --- # There comes a time when the blankness of the future is… ![“There comes a time when the blankness of the future is just so extreme, it's like such a black wall of nothingness. Not of bad things like a cave full of monsters and so, you're afraid of entering it. It's just nothingness, the void, emptiness and it is just horrible. It's like contemplating a…” quote by Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/stephen-fry-573_alive_there-comes-a-time-when-the-blankness-of_2169486.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/stephen-fry-573_alive_there-comes-a-time-when-the-blankness-of_2169486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92c/stephen-fry-573_alive_there-comes-a-time-when-the-blankness-of_2169486.png) > “There comes a time when the blankness of the future is just so extreme, it's like such a black wall of nothingness. Not of bad things like a cave full of monsters and so, you're afraid of entering it. It's just nothingness, the void, emptiness and it is just horrible. It's like contemplating a future-less future and so you just want to step out of it. The monstrosity of being alive overwhelms you.” [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote describes an overwhelming sense of existential emptiness and dread about an unknowable future, likening it to a terrifying void. **In simple terms:** Future feels empty and terrifying. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and confront existential fear. Themes existential fear future Mood melancholic introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - mental health - philosophical discussion Key Concepts nihilism anxiety meaninglessness Questions to Reflect On - What coping strategies help when facing existential dread? - Can meaning be created despite perceived emptiness? A Different Perspective The feeling may be a symptom of deeper mental health concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Blankness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blankness/) [Blankness Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blankness-future-4639065/) [Caves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caves/) [Contemplating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplating/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) [Entering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entering/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Monstrosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monstrosity/) [Nothingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothingness/) [Nothingness Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothingness-bad-4639066/) [Nothingness Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothingness-void-4280323/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [There comes a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-comes-a-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Blankness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-blankness-4639067/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) [Void Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void-emptiness-4213106/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Enlightenment is a timeless void. It's an emptiness that's filled with the most excellent light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightenment-is-a-timeless-void-it-s-an-emptiness-that-s-filled-with/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone can feel the nothingness, the void, just beneath the surface of everyday routines and securities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zerzan/everyone-can-feel-the-nothingness-the-void-just-beneath-the-surface/) [John Zerzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zerzan/) > [“I understand only that a vast void, an emptiness, is needing to be filled. O the things we grasp at.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-davies/i-understand-only-that-a-vast-void-an-emptiness-is-needing-to-be/) [Luke Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-davies/) > [“I knew that we counted little in comparison with the universe, I knew that we were nothing; but to be so immeasurably nothing seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-knew-that-we-counted-little-in-comparison-with-the-universe-i-knew/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Left alone, I am overtaken by the northern void-no wind, no cloud, no track, no bird, only the crystal crescents between peaks, the ringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/left-alone-i-am-overtaken-by-the-northern-void-no-wind-no-cloud-no/) [Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/) > [“Real Void is in the space yet unaffected by the made “space.” Although it is nothingness, the void provides volume to the Being to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/real-void-is-in-the-space-yet-unaffected-by-the-made-space-although/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“To think blankness rouses certain terror and in the feeling the sudden sense of self responding down to the smallest unaided particle of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-honig/to-think-blankness-rouses-certain-terror-and-in-the-feeling-the/) [Edwin Honig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-honig/) > [In them was not the savage blankness of the reptile species. Instead there was something far worse - burning, unquenchable rage mixed with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitley-strieber/in-them-was-not-the-savage-blankness-of-the-reptile-species-instead/) [Whitley Strieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitley-strieber/) > [“Despair dragged at me like an anchor, pulling me down. I closed my eyes and retreated to some dim place within, where there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/despair-dragged-at-me-like-an-anchor-pulling-me-down-i-closed-my-eyes/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [In the next few galactic seconds, the fate of the universe will be decided. Life - the ultimate experiment - will either explode into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-savage/in-the-next-few-galactic-seconds-the-fate-of-the-universe-will-be/) [Marshall Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-savage/) > [He was conscious of nothing except the blankness of the page in front of him, the itching of the skin above his ankle, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/he-was-conscious-of-nothing-except-the-blankness-of-the-page-in-front/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“But the trouble is there aren't any bends in my road. I can see it stretching straight out before me to the sky-line…endless monotony.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/but-the-trouble-is-there-aren-t-any-bends-in-my-road-i-can-see-it/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [I must not fall asleep in the middle of my life. Out of the blankness that surrounds me I must pluck the incident after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee-2/i-must-not-fall-asleep-in-the-middle-of-my-life-out-of-the-blankness/) [J. M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee-2/) > [“He had become blank, but there was not the expectation of something blank, like a page or a canvas; there was not the hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-davis/he-had-become-blank-but-there-was-not-the-expectation-of-something/) [Brooke Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-davis/) > [It seemed to me the basic definition of mental illness, this persistent, painful inability to simply be with someone else. It might be lifelong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-thompson/it-seemed-to-me-the-basic-definition-of-mental-illness-this/) [Tracy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-thompson/) ## More by Stephen Fry > [“...Catholic versus Protestant, essentially. It's that kind of fight. ... And it goes on to this day. Will we never learn? Who knows? Religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/catholic-versus-protestant-essentially-it-s-that-kind-of-fight-and-it/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/how-dare-you-how-dare-you-create-a-world-in-which-there-is-such/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Look at the kind of people who most object to the childishness and cheapness of celebrity culture. Does one really want to side with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/look-at-the-kind-of-people-who-most-object-to-the-childishness-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The object of love should feel honoured or flattered, responsible in some way. Instead he felt insulted, degraded and revolted. More than that, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-object-of-love-should-feel-honoured-or-flattered-responsible-in/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The only people who are obsessed with food are anorexics and the morbidly obese. That, in erotic terms, is the Catholic church, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-only-people-who-are-obsessed-with-food-are-anorexics-and-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [To me, reason is as spiritual as anything else, the beauty of reason seems to me indelible and ineffable and numinous... the spirit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/to-me-reason-is-as-spiritual-as-anything-else-the-beauty-of-reason/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The stranger might laugh and seem to enjoy the writing, but you hug to yourself the thought that they didn't quite understand its force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-stranger-might-laugh-and-seem-to-enjoy-the-writing-but-you-hug-to/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The future is a much bigger deal than the past,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-future-is-a-much-bigger-deal-than-the-past/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I gather a repulsive nobody writing in a paper no one of any decency would be seen dead with has written something loathesome and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-gather-a-repulsive-nobody-writing-in-a-paper-no-one-of-any-decency/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I've never had any illusions about being a lead actor in films, because lead actors have to be of a certain kind. Apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-ve-never-had-any-illusions-about-being-a-lead-actor-in-films/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Because, let's face it, I do not get offered the parts that Brad Pitt has just turned down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/because-let-s-face-it-i-do-not-get-offered-the-parts-that-brad-pitt/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I will defend the absolute value of Mozart over Miley Cyrus, of course I will, but we should be wary of false dichotomies. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-will-defend-the-absolute-value-of-mozart-over-miley-cyrus-of-course/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [You can't just say there is a god because the world is beautiful. You have to account for bone cancer in children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/you-can-t-just-say-there-is-a-god-because-the-world-is-beautiful-you/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [If you know someone who's depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn't a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-you-know-someone-who-s-depressed-please-resolve-never-to-ask-them/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It's as if scientists exert every effort of will they possess deliberately to find the least significant problems in the world and explain them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/it-s-as-if-scientists-exert-every-effort-of-will-they-possess/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) [Explore all 466 Stephen Fry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There comes a time when the blankness of the future is just so extreme, it's like such a black wall of nothingness. Not of bad things like a cave full of monsters and so, you're afraid of entering it. It's just nothingness, the void, emptiness and it is just horrible. It's like contemplating a future-less future and so you just want to step out of it. 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