Distance Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“There was an immeasurable distance between the quick and the dead: they did not seem to belong to the same species; and it was strange to think that but a little while before they had spoken and moved and eaten and laughed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
Life and death are separated by an immense, almost incomprehensible gulf, making the living feel alien to the dead.
In simple terms: Living and dying feel worlds apart.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the preciousness of life.
Themes
mortality
alienation
existence
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- philosophical reflection
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
human condition
epistemic distance
Questions to Reflect On
- How does awareness of mortality change daily choices?
- What bridges the gap between the living and the dead?
