Answer Quote by Susan Sontag
““Concerning the death of Gertrude Stein: she came out of a deep coma to ask her companion Alice Toklas, 'Alice, Alice, what is the answer?' Her companion replied, 'There is no answer.' Gertrude Stein continued, 'Well, then, what is the question?' and fell back dead.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Death of Gertrude Stein,” The New Yorker, 1995
The anecdote illustrates the futility of seeking definitive answers to existential questions.
In simple terms: Searching for absolute answers may be pointless.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and focus on living.
Themes
existence
philosophy
mortality
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- philosophical debates
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
absurdism
meaninglessness
dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to live without definitive answers?
- How do you cope with existential uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Some may find comfort in seeking meaning despite uncertainty.
![“What is the answer?" [ I [Alice B Toklas] was silent ] In that case, what is the question?” quote by Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eec/gertrude-stein-667_last-words_what-is-the-answer-i-alice-b-toklas-was_43063.jpg)
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
