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Elegy Quote by Virginia Woolf

“The tumult of the present seems like a elegy for past youth and past summers, and there rose in her mind a curious sadness, as if time and eternity showed through skirts and waistcoats, and she saw people passing tragically to destruction.” quote by Virginia Woolf
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““The tumult of the present seems like a elegy for past youth and past summers, and there rose in her mind a curious sadness, as if time and eternity showed through skirts and waistcoats, and she saw people passing tragically to destruction.””

Virginia Woolf

About This Quote

Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, 1925

The present feels mournful, recalling lost youth; time reveals its fleeting nature, prompting melancholy.

In simple terms: Present feels sad, remembering youth.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the present, cherish moments.

Themes

nostalgia time melancholy

Mood

reflective wistancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • reading literature
  • personal reflection
  • art appreciation

Key Concepts

existential reflection impermanence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does nostalgia shape your choices?
  • What can you do to honor past while living now?
A Different Perspective

The sadness may romanticize loss, hindering growth.

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