Dreams Quote by Virginia Woolf
““Such are the visions which ceaselessly float up, pace beside, put their faces in front of, the actual thing; often overpowering the solitary traveller and taking away from him the sense of the earth, the wish to return, and giving him for substitute a general peace, as if (so he thinks as he advances down the forest ride) all this fever of living were simplicity itself; and myriads of things merged in one thing; and this figure, made of sky and branches as it is, had risen from the troubled sea (he is elderly, past fifty now) as a shape might be sucked up out of the waves to shower down from her magnificent hands, compassion, comprehension, absolution. So, he thinks, may I never go back to the lamplight; to the sitting-room; never finish my book; never knock out my pipe; never ring for Mrs. Turner to clear away; rather let me walk on to this great figure, who will, with a toss of her head, mount me on her streamers and let me blow to nothingness with the rest.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, 1925
The passage describes how overwhelming visions can detach a person from reality, replacing ordinary desires with a transcendent, almost nihilistic peace.
In simple terms: Visions can pull us away from everyday life into a dreamy escape.
Key Takeaway
Beware of losing grounding in pursuit of lofty visions.
Themes
illusion
escape
nihilism
spirituality
identity
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
dreamy
Type
literary
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- philosophical contemplation
- artistic inspiration
- mental health
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
existentialism
transcendence
perception
solitude
nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever feel swept away by ideas that detach you from reality?
- How can one balance visionary thinking with practical life?
A Different Perspective
Such visions may lead to neglect of responsibilities and personal relationships.
