Angel Quote by Tony Kushner
““I had a book of Bible stories when I was a kid. There was a picture I'd look at twenty times every day: Jacob wrestles with the angel. I don't really remember the story, or why the wrestling --just the picture. Jacob is young and very strong. The angel is...a beautiful man, with golden hair and wings, of course. I still dream about it. Many nights. I'm...It's me. In that struggle. Fierce, and unfair. The angel is not human, and it holds nothing back, so how could anyone human win, what kind of a fight is that? It's not just. Losing means your soul thrown down in the dust, your heart torn out from God's. But you can't not lose.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
The quote reflects a personal, mythic struggle where human frailty confronts an overwhelming, divine challenge, symbolizing inner conflict and the feeling of inevitable loss.
In simple terms: A deep inner battle with an unbeatable force.
Key Takeaway
Accept vulnerability and seek meaning beyond victory.
Themes
spirituality
conflict
identity
mythology
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- theological study
Key Concepts
existential struggle
divine archetype
psychic projection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the angel represent for you?
- How can acknowledging loss empower growth?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify complex psychological processes.
