They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more.

Elles accouchent à cheval sur une tombe, le jour brille un instant, puis c'est la nuit à nouveau.

Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot

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More information about this quote

Topic

Shortness of life Ephemeral nature of life Life The human condition

Speaker

Pozzo

Author

Samuel Beckett

Source

Waiting for Godot

Medium

Play

Genre

Modernist literature

Language

French

Time

1953 1950s 20th century

Occupation

Playwright Writer

From

Ireland Europe

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Beckett, Samuel. En attendant Godot. Directed by Roger Blin. 5 Jan. 1953, Théâtre de Babylone, Paris, France.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Samuel Beckett about shortness of life: “They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then…”
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A quote by Samuel Beckett about shortness of life: “They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then…”
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A quote by Samuel Beckett about shortness of life: “They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then…”
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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 from the 1950s

There are no warlike peoples-just warlike leaders.

Ralph J. Bunche

More information about this quote
Topic
War
Speaker
Ralph J. Bunche
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1950 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Bunche, Ralph J. Address to United Nations. c. 1971, New York City, NY, USA.

Another quote about The human condition

Knowing that certain nights whose sweetness lingers will keep returning to the earth and sea after we are gone, yes, this helps us die.

Albert Camus

The Sea Close By

More information about this quote
Topic
Acceptance of death Death The human condition

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Sea Close By
Medium
Essay
Language
French
Time
1953 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. "The Sea Close By." Lyrical and Critical Essays. Vintage Books, 1970. Originally published in L'Eté [Summer]. Gallimard, 1954.

Another quote originally in French

To have common glories in the past, a common will in the present; to have done great things together, to will to do the like again-these are the essential conditions for the making of a people.

Ernest Renan

More information about this quote
Topic
Political community

Author

Ernest Renan
Source
What is a Nation?
Medium
Lecture
Language
French
Time
1882 1880s 19th century
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Renan, Ernest. "Qu’est-ce qu’une nation? [What is a Nation?]" 11 Mar. 1882, University of Sorbonne, Paris, France, pt. 3.

Current Citation

Renan, Ernest. "What is a Nation?" What is a Nation and Other Political Writings, translated by M. F. N. Giglioli. Columbia University Press, 2018, ch. 10, pt. 3.