Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our not being, each of us, the center of the universe; of our desires forever outnumbering our means of satisfying them.

Jonathan Franzen

Read this essay at harpers.org

More information about this quote

Topic

The human condition Desire

Author

Jonathan Franzen

Source

Harper's Magazine

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1996 1990s 20th century

Occupation

Novelist Writer

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Franzen, Jonathan. "Perchance to Dream: In the Age of Images, a Reason to Write Novels." Harper's Magazine, Apr. 1996.

Current Citation

Franzen, Jonathan. "Why Bother?" How to Be Alone. Picador, 2002.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Jonathan Franzen about the human condition: “Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our…”
Download
A quote by Jonathan Franzen about the human condition: “Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our…”
Download
A quote by Jonathan Franzen about the human condition: “Imagine that human existence is defined by an Ache: the Ache of our…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about The human condition

Between us and excellence, the gods have placed the sweat of our brows.

Hesiod

Works and Days

Buy Works and Days at Amazon Buy Works and Days at Amazon
Read Works and Days at Harvard's classics page
More information about this quote
Topic
Hard work Excellence Character Virtue The human condition

Author

Hesiod
Source
Works and Days
Medium
Poem
Genre
Didactic poem
Language
Greek
Time
700 BC 700s BC 8th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Hesiod. Ἔργα καὶ Ἡμέραι [Works and Days]. c. 700 BC, l. 289.

Current Citation

Hesiod. "Works and Days." Theogony and Works and Days, translated by M. L. West. Oxford University Press, 2009, l. 289.