Troubled waters Quote by William Kotzwinkle
““The wave came again and carried them out onto the sea of pain, where he wondered again why life ever came into the world...The tide that drew them out into the troubled waters once again spent itself, and they floated slowly back, resting for a minute or so, only to be dragged out again. He held her up while she contracted and pushed inside herself, trying to open the petals of her flowering body...He lifted her, trying to free the load she was struggling with, but she was straining against the traces, getting nowhere, her eyes like those of a draft horse...Who would choose this, thought Laski, this work, this woe? Life enslaves us, makes us want children, gives us a thousand illusions about love, and all so that it can go forward.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Vampire Lestat, Anne Rice, 1976
Life is portrayed as a relentless cycle of suffering and fleeting moments of relief, questioning the purpose of existence amidst pain.
In simple terms: Life feels like endless pain and brief respite, making purpose unclear.
Key Takeaway
Accept suffering, seek meaning beyond illusion.
Themes
existential
suffering
illusion
purpose
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- grief
- relationship strain
- parental responsibility
- search for meaning
Key Concepts
nihilism
existentialism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- What gives you hope in suffering?
- How can you find purpose despite pain?
A Different Perspective
Pain may be inevitable, but meaning can be created through connection.
