We lead two lives, and the half of our soul is madness, and half heaven is lit by a black sun. I say I am a man, is the other that hides in me?
Arthur MachenRead
And there were other rocks that were like animals, creeping, horrible animals, putting out their tongues, and others were like words I could not say, and others like dead people lying on the grass. I went on among them, though they frightened me, and my heart was full of wicked song they put into it; and I wanted to make faces and twist myself about the way they did, and I went on and on a long way till at last I liked the rocks and they didn’t frighten me any more
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the transformative power of facing one's fears and embracing the unknown.
In this quote, Arthur Machen describes a journey through a landscape filled with frightening elements that initially evoke fear and confusion. As the narrator ventures deeper, they begin to appreciate the beauty and complexity of their surroundings, ultimately discovering a sense of acceptance and enjoyment. This transformation signifies how confronting our fears can lead to personal growth and a greater understanding of the world around us.
Themes
FearTransformationAcceptanceGrowthNature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about overcoming fears.
More from Arthur Machen
All quotes →It was better, he thought, to fail in attempting exquisite things than to succeed in the department of the utterly contemptible.
Arthur MachenRead
Every branch of human knowledge, if traced up to its source and final principles, vanishes into mystery.
Arthur MachenRead
There are sacraments of evil as well as of good about us, and we live and move to my belief in an unknown world, a place where there are caves and shadows and dwellers in twilight. It is possible that man may sometimes return on the track of evolution, and it is my belief that an awful lore is not yet dead.
Arthur MachenRead
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