“I had gone...to the smoke of cafes and nights when the room whirled and you needed to look at the wall to make it stop, nights in bed, drunk, when you knew that that was all there was, and the strange excitement of waking and not knowing who it was with you, and the world all unreal in the dark and so exciting that you must resume again unknowing and not caring in the night, sure that this was all and all and all and not caring. Suddenly to care very much and to sleep to wake with it sometimes morning and all that had been there gone and everything sharp and hard and clear and sometimes a dispute about the cost. Sometimes still pleasant and fond and warm and breakfast and lunch. Sometimes all niceness gone and glad to get out on the street but always another day starting and then another night. I tried to tell about the night and the difference between the night and the day and how the night was better unless the day was very clean and cold and I could not tell it; as I cannot tell it now. But if you have had it you know.”
Quote Analysis
In this passage by Ernest Hemingway, the narrator reflects on the excitement and unpredictability of nights filled with smoke, drunkenness, and emotional detachment. The narrator describes the disorienting feeling of not knowing who is with them in bed, yet feeling a strange allure to continue in the night, despite the lack of care or concern. The passage captures the transient nature of these wild nights, where emotions can shift from pleasant and warm to cold and abrasive. The narrator struggles to articulate the difference between night and day, highlighting the blurred lines between the two when caught up in this lifestyle. Ultimately, the narrator conveys the ineffability of these experiences, suggesting that only those who have lived through them can truly understand.
Modern Relevance
In this passage from Ernest Hemingway's work, the narrator reflects on the allure of nightlife, the highs and lows of living in the moment, and the blurred lines between reality and excitement. These themes are still very much relevant in today's society, where individuals often seek escape and thrill in the nightlife scene, navigating through moments of chaos, passion, and uncertainty. The constant cycle of nights out followed by mornings of clarity and reflection continues to be a familiar experience for many.
Example of Usage
In this passage, Hemingway beautifully captures the chaotic and turbulent nature of nights spent out in the city. The vivid imagery and raw emotions portrayed in his writing make it easy for the reader to imagine themselves in those moments. The use of stream-of-consciousness writing adds to the sense of disorientation and excitement that comes with late nights full of revelry.
Reflection Questions:
Hemingway's reflection on the contrast between night and day, between moments of excitement and moments of clarity, invites us to consider the complexities of life and how our perceptions of reality can shift. Reflect on the following questions:
- Have you ever experienced moments of intense excitement and uncertainty, where everything seemed unreal and thrilling? How did you navigate those experiences?
- How do you distinguish between the night and the day in your own life, metaphorically speaking? What qualities define these two states for you?
- Have you ever felt a strong shift in perception, where everything suddenly became clear and sharp? How did that experience shape your understanding of yourself and the world around you?
- How do you find balance between moments of chaos and moments of clarity in your life? How do you navigate the transitions between these states?
- Reflect on a time when you found yourself caught between conflicting emotions or perspectives. How did you work through that internal conflict and find resolution?
Similar quotes
“I had gone to no place where the roads were frozen and hard as iron, where it was clear cold and dry and the snow was dry and powdery and hare-tracks in the snow and the peasants took off their hats and called you Lord and there was good hunting. I had gone to no such place but to the smoke of cafés and nights when the room whirled and you needed to look at the wall to make it stop, nights in bed, drunk, when you knew that that was all there was, and the strange excitement of waking and not knowing who it was with you, and the world all unreal in the dark and so exciting that you must resume again unknowing and not caring in the night, sure that this was all and all and all and not caring. Suddenly to care very much and to sleep to wake with it sometimes morning and all that had been there gone and everything sharp and hard and clear and sometimes a dispute about the cost. Sometimes still pleasant and fond and warm and breakfast and lunch. Sometimes all niceness gone and glad to get out on the street but always another day starting and then another night. I tried to tell about the night and the difference between the night and the day and how the night was better unless the day was very clean and cold and I could not tell it; as I cannot tell it now”
“I had gone to no such place but to the smoke of cafes and nights when the room whirled and you needed to look at the wall to make it stop, nights in bed, drunk, when you knew that that was all there was, and the strange excitement of waking and not knowing who it was with you, and the world all unreal in the dark and so exciting that you must resume again unknowing and not caring in the night, sure that this was all and all and all and not caring.”
“This is Lilly Heaven saying good night, and to all a very good night. Good night everybody. Here's wishing you pleasant dreams. Sleep tight. From all of us to all of you, a warm good night. And now we must, I'm afraid, say "good night." Good night, ladies and gentlemen, and good night. Thanks a lot and God bless you. This is Lilly signing off and wishing all of you out there from all of us in here the very best possible good night. I can only hope that you enjoyed watching us as much as we enjoyed being here. Good night. Pleasant dreams. Sleep tight. It's been wonderful being with you, and I hope you'll invite us into your living room again tomorrow night. From the actors and myself, from the staff here, I want to wish you all the best possible night and day before we meet again. It's been wonderful being with you. It's been truly grand. I only wish we could go on but I'm afraid our time is up, and so this is your Lily saying good night to you. Pleasant dreams. Good night all. Good night to you all. Good night to all of you. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night. To all of you out there from all of us here good night. And pleasant dreams till we meet again. Good night to you all. Good night. Good night. Good night. Good night.”
“Most of all, I miss that feeling when you go to sleep at night and when you wake up in the morning. It's that feeling that everything is all rightin the world. You know, that amazing feeling that you're whole, that you've got everything you want, that you aren't missing anything. Sometimes when I wake up, I get it for just a moment. It lasts a few seconds, but then I remember what happened, and how nothing has been the same since”
“I wake in the night. Or sometimes I don't wake in the night. It hardly seems to make a difference.”