Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
It is a time when one’s spirit is subdued and sad, one knows not why; when the past seems a storm-swept desolation, life a vanity and a burden, and the future but a way to death. It is a time when one is filled with vague longings; when one dreams of flight to peaceful islands in the remote solitudes of the sea, or folds his hands and says, What is the use of struggling, and toiling and worrying any more? let us give it all up.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects a deep sense of melancholy and existential questioning about life and its struggles.
Mark Twain captures the essence of human despair and the feelings that accompany moments of profound sadness. He highlights a state of mind where one feels overwhelmed by life's challenges, leading to a longing for escape and introspection about the purpose of struggle. This sentiment resonates with anyone who has faced difficult times, expressing a universal battle with feelings of futility and the search for solace.
Themes
SadnessStruggleExistentialismReflectionDespair
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, you could use this quote to illustrate the common feeling of being overwhelmed by life's challenges.
More from Mark Twain
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To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
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In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
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