Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Philip LarkinRead
I'm terrified of the thought of time passing (or whatever is meant by that phrase) whether I 'do' anything or not. In a way I may believe, deep down, that doing nothing acts as a brake on 'time's - it doesn't of course. It merely adds the torment of having done nothing, when the time comes when it really doesn't matter if you've done anything or not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the anxiety of time passing without purposeful action and the regret that can accompany inaction.
Philip Larkin expresses a deep-seated fear of time passing, whether one is actively doing something or not. He suggests that inactivity can create a false sense of control over time, but ultimately, it leads to the torment of unfulfilled potential, as the passage of time continues irrespective of one's actions. The quote invites reflection on the importance of seizing opportunities and making meaningful use of one's time before it slips away.
Themes
TimeRegretInactionAnxietyLife
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote during a motivational speech about the importance of taking action in life.
More from Philip Larkin
All quotes →Uncontradicting solitude Supports me on its giant palm; And like a sea-anemone Or simple snail, there cautiously Unfolds, emerges, what I am.
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Saki says that youth is like hors d'oeuvres: you are so busy thinking of the next courses you don't notice it. When you've had them, you wish you'd had more hors d'oeuvres.
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Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.
Philip LarkinRead
Originality is being different from oneself, not others.
Philip LarkinRead
I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.
Philip LarkinRead
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