Abyss Quote by William James
“The "through-and-through" universe seems to suffocate me with its infallible impeccable all-pervasiveness. Its necessity , with no possibilities; its relations, with no subjects, make me feel as if I had entered into a contract with no reserved rights ... It seems too buttoned-up and white-chokered and clean-shaven a thing to speak for the vast slow-breathing unconscious Kosmos with its dread abysses and its unknown tides.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Principles of Psychology, 1890
The quote expresses a feeling of being overwhelmed by a deterministic, all-encompassing universe that leaves no room for freedom or possibility, evoking existential dread.
In simple terms: Feeling trapped by a rigid, all‑controlling cosmos.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question deterministic assumptions.
Themes
existentialism
determinism
freedom
anxiety
cosmology
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
existential
When to use this quote
- philosophical contemplation
- creative writing
- mental health therapy
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
Phenomenology
ontological nihilism
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in a fixed cosmos affect your choices?
- Can you find agency within perceived constraints?
A Different Perspective
The view may ignore human agency and the capacity for meaning‑making.
