Cloud Quote by T.H. White
““They would set their course toward it, seeing it grow bigger silently and imperceptibly, a motionless growth--and then, when they were at it, when they were about to bang their noses with a shock against its seeming solid mass, the sun would dim. Wraiths of mist suddenly moving like serpents of the air would coil about them for a second. Grey damp would be around them, and the sun, a copper penny, would fade away. The wings next to their own wings would shade into vacancy, until each bird was a lonely sound in cold annihilation, a presence after uncreation. And there they would hang in chartless nothing, seemingly without speed or left or right or top or bottom, until as suddenly as ever the copper penny glowed and the serpents writhed.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Once and Future King, 1958
A vivid description of confronting an overwhelming, unknowable force that seems solid until it collapses, leaving one in disorienting emptiness.
In simple terms: Facing something that appears solid but turns out to be void.
Key Takeaway
Recognize illusion of stability before acting.
Themes
illusion
uncertainty
transformation
existential dread
Mood
disorienting
haunting
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- exploring new ideas
- making critical decisions
- navigating crisis
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
philosophy
perception
entropy
metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What appears solid might be illusion
- how do you test reality before committing?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may over‑dramaticize uncertainty, ignoring practical coping strategies.
