Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
That's the day's business. Thinking. Thinking and isolation, because it doesn't matter if you pass the time of day with someone or not; in the end, you're alone. He seemed to have put in as many miles in his brain as he had with his feet. The thoughts kept coming and there was no way to deny them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of human existence involves solitary contemplation regardless of social interactions.
In this quote, Stephen King emphasizes the solitary nature of thought and the inevitability of being alone with one's own reflections. Even when surrounded by others, one's mind is ultimately an isolated entity, engaging in a constant dialogue that shapes our understanding of life and self. The reference to 'putting in miles in his brain' illustrates the extensive journey of thought that can occur internally, mirroring the physical journeys that one takes.
Themes
ThinkingIsolationSolitudeContemplationLoneliness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be discussed in a philosophy class to highlight the nature of thought and existence.
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