Obsessed by a fairy tale, we spend our lives searching for a magic door and a lost kingdom of peace.
Eugene O'NeillRead
There is no present or future-only the past, happening over and over again-now.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the cyclical nature of time and emphasizes how past experiences continue to influence our present.
Eugene O'Neill's quote suggests that our understanding of time is more complex than merely distinguishing between past, present, and future. Instead, it implies that the past is ever-present in our lives, as past experiences shape our current reality and continue to repeat themselves in our thoughts and actions. This reflects a philosophical view on how we perceive time and its impact on our existence.
Themes
TimePastPresentCyclicalRepetition
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a philosophy conference discussing the nature of time.
More from Eugene O'Neill
All quotes βWriting is my vacation from living.
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When you're 50 you start thinking about things you haven't thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity - but actually it's about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.
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I am so far from being a pessimist...on the contrary, in spite of my scars, I am tickled to death at life.
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I have had my dance with Folly, nor do I shirk the blame; I have sipped the so-called Wine of Life and paid the price of shame; But I know that I shall find surcease, the rest my spirit craves, Where the rainbows play in the flying spray, 'Mid the keen salt kiss of the waves.
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Life is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors.
Eugene O'NeillRead
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