Awful Quote by Virginia Woolf
“Wind and storm colored July. Also, in the middle, cadaverous, awful, lay the grey puddle in the courtyard, when holding an envelope in my hand, I carried a message. I came to the puddle. I could not cross it. Identity failed me. We are nothing, I said, and fell. I was blown like a feather. I was wafted down tunnels. Then very gingerly, I pushed my foot across. I laid my hand against a brick wall. I returned very painfully, drawing myself back into my body over the grey, cadaverous space of the puddle. This is life then to which I am committed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, 1925
The passage describes a surreal, fragmented experience of confronting a bleak, liminal space that threatens identity, yet ultimately reaffirms commitment to life despite its hardships.
In simple terms: Facing a bleak, identity‑shaking moment and choosing to keep going.
Key Takeaway
Embrace life even when it feels overwhelming.
Themes
identity
existence
resilience
surrealism
Mood
melancholic
reflective
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- grief
- mental health crisis
- artistic creation
- personal transformation
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
stream of consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find grounding when reality feels fragmented?
- What does “committed to life” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
The vivid metaphor may obscure practical coping strategies for real‑world distress.
