Every island to a child is a treasure island.
P. D. JamesRead
But what do you believe? I don't just mean religion. What are you sure of?" "That once I was not and that now I am. That one day I shall no longer be.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote invites reflection on one's beliefs about existence and mortality.
P. D. James prompts individuals to examine their core beliefs beyond religious contexts, emphasizing certainty in the reality of existence and the inevitability of death. This contemplation encourages self-reflection regarding the nature of life and the transient experience of being.
Themes
BeliefExistenceMortalitySelf-ReflectionPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class discussion on the nature of existence, this quote can highlight important themes.
More from P. D. James
All quotes →If from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.
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I believe that political correctness can be a form of linguistic fascism, and it sends shivers down the spine of my generation who went to war against fascism.
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What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give.
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Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.
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It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.
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