Fear Quote by William Faulkner
““When I was fifteen, a companion and I, on a dare, went into the mound one day just at sunset. We saw some of those Indians for the first time; we got directions from them and reached the top of the mound just as the sun set. We had camping equiptment with us, but we made no fire. We didn't even make down our beds. We just sat side by side on that mound until it became light enough to find our way back to the road. We didn't talk. When we looked at each other in the gray dawn, our faces were gray, too, quiet, very grave. When we reached town again, we didn't talk either. We just parted and went home and went to bed. That's what we thought, felt, about the mound. We were children, it is true, yet we were descendants of people who read books and who were, or should have been, beyond superstition and impervious to mindless fear.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Mound” excerpt, The New Yorker, 1935
A silent, shared experience between children at a historic mound evokes reverence, mortality, and the weight of ancestral legacy.
In simple terms: Quiet moments at historic places reveal deep reflection.
Key Takeaway
Find meaning in shared silence.
Themes
history
memory
coming‑of‑age
reflection
Mood
contemplative
nostalgic
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- visiting historic sites
- family trips
- educational field trips
- personal meditation
Key Concepts
heritage
spirituality
existential awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- What emotions arise in you at historic sites?
- How does shared silence affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
Silence can mask unresolved emotions.
