“There is no escape from the hours and the days. Neither from tomorrow nor from yesterday, because yesterday has deformed us, or been deformed by us... We are not merely more weary because of yesterday, we are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Samuel Beckett, he reflects on the inescapable nature of time and how the past continues to shape and influence our present selves. Beckett emphasizes that we are constantly being transformed by our past actions and experiences, making us "other" than who we were before. This profound insight highlights the importance of acknowledging and learning from our past in order to understand and navigate our present reality.
Relevance in the Present Day
In this quote by Samuel Beckett, he reflects on the idea that we are constantly influenced and shaped by our past experiences. This concept is still highly relevant in modern times as individuals continue to carry the weight of their past actions, decisions, and traumas with them. The idea that we are not the same as we were before certain events or circumstances is a powerful reminder to acknowledge the impact of our past on our present selves.
Reflection on Time and Change
"There is no escape from the hours and the days. Neither from tomorrow nor from yesterday, because yesterday has deformed us, or been deformed by us... We are not merely more weary because of yesterday, we are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday" - Samuel Beckett.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on Samuel Beckett's words about the impact of yesterday on our present selves can prompt us to think deeply about the passage of time and the way past experiences shape who we are today. Consider the following questions for further contemplation:
How have past experiences, both positive and negative, influenced the person you are today?
In what ways do you find yourself carrying the weight of yesterday into your present moments? How does this impact your daily life?
Do you believe it is possible to truly escape the grip of the past, or is it inevitable that past events will continue to shape our future actions and thoughts?
How can acknowledging the impact of yesterday help us navigate our present circumstances with greater awareness and mindfulness?
Similar quotes
“We are not merely more weary because of yesterday, we are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday.”
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“So that I would have hesitated to exclaim, with my finger up my arse-hole for example, Jesus Christ, it's much worse than yesterday, I can hardly believe it is the same hole.”
“Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for one the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us! What do you say? It is true that when with folded arms we weigh the pros and cons we are no less a credit to our species. The tiger bounds to the help of his congeners without the least reflexion, or else he slinks away into the depths of the thickets. But that is not the question. What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in the immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come -- ”
“Yesterday's tomorrow brought us close....Tomorrow's yesterday pulled us apart again.Between yesterdays and tomorrows, a life lived !We blossomed and wilted, blossomed and wilted again !”
“We usually lost today because there has been a yesterday, and tomorrow is coming.”