Life is a near-death experience.
George CarlinRead
People can't seem to get it through their heads that there is never any healing or closure. Ever. There is only a short pause before the next "horrifying" event. People forget there is such a thing as memory, and that when a wound "heals" it leaves a permanent scar that never goes away, but merely fades a little. What really ought to be said after one of these so-called tragedies is, "Let the scarring begin.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Healing is an ongoing process, not a complete resolution, and scars from trauma remain with us.
George Carlin's quote emphasizes that true healing from traumatic events is a continuous journey rather than a definitive end point. He suggests that while people often expect closure after a tragedy, the memories and scars of these experiences persist and shape our lives, urging us to recognize the long-lasting impact of our experiences rather than ignoring them.
Themes
HealingScarsTraumaMemoryClosure
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about trauma recovery, one might mention Carlin's quote to highlight the ongoing nature of healing.
More from George Carlin
All quotes →Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: “We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car."
George CarlinRead
If you've got a cat and a leg, you've got a happy cat. If you've got a cat and two legs, you've got a party.
George CarlinRead
This is a lttle prayer dedicated to the separation of church and state. I guess if they are going to force those kids to pray in schools they might as well have a nice prayer like this: Our Father who art in heaven, and to the republic for which it stands, thy kingdom come, one nation indivisible as in heaven, give us this day as we forgive those who so proudly we hail. Crown thy good into temptation but deliver us from the twilight's last gleaming. Amen and Awomen.
George CarlinRead
Some people try to get out of jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell the judge the truth. Tell him you'd make a terrific juror because you can spot guilty people.
George CarlinRead
Intelligence tests are biased toward the literate.
George CarlinRead
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We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.
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