Dreams Quote by Virginia Woolf
““When the white arm rests upon the knee it is a triangle; now it is upright - a column; now a fountain, falling. It makes no sign, it does not beckon, it does not see us. Behind it roars the sea. It is beyond our reach. Yet there I venture. There I go to replenish my emptiness, to stretch my nights and fill them fuller and fuller with dreams. And for a second even now, even here, I reach my object and say, “Wander no more. All is trial and make-believe. Here is the end.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, 1925
The passage describes a fleeting, almost abstract encounter with a mysterious presence that evokes longing and the desire to fill inner emptiness with dreams, ultimately concluding that life is a mix of trial and illusion.
In simple terms: A mysterious encounter sparks yearning to fill emptiness, ending in acceptance of life’s illusion.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the yearning, recognize life’s fleeting nature.
Themes
longing
illusion
existence
dreams
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- nighttime contemplation
Key Concepts
existentialism
modernism
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What emptiness do you seek to fill?
- How does recognizing illusion change your actions?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may be too abstract for practical guidance.
