Skip to content
quotesby

More towers must yet be built-more towers destroyed- Great rocks hoisted in air; And he must seek his bread in high pale sunlight With gulls about him, and clouds just over his eyes . . . And so he did not mention his dream of falling But drank his coffee in silence, and heard in his ears That horrible whistle of wind, and felt his breath Sucked out of him, and saw the tower flash by And the small tree swell beneath him . . . He patted his boy on the head, and kissed his wife, Looked quickly around the room, to remember it,- And so went out . . . For once, he forgot his pail.

Conrad Aiken#37

DreamsLifeWorkBurdenFamilyRoutine

About this quote

What does it mean?
A man goes about his daily routine despite inner turmoil or grand thoughts, showing the persistence of mundane life.
In plain terms
He did his daily work and remembered his family, even though he was thinking about heavy things.
What can you take from it?
Daily routines continue regardless of inner struggles.

Where it applies

  • going to work
  • handling stress

Putting it to work

  • focusing on routine

Questions to consider

  • How do you handle stress?
  • What keeps you grounded?

Another view

It suggests avoiding difficult thoughts rather than addressing them.

More from Conrad Aiken

  1. Each gleaming point of light is like a seed Dilating swiftly to coiling fires. Each cloud becomes a rapidly dimming face, Each hurrying face records its strang…

    Permalink to quote #36
  2. Something had changed-but it was not the street- The street was just the same-it was himself.

    Permalink to quote #38
  3. We rub the darkness from our eyes, And face our thousand devious secret mornings . . . And do not see how the pale mist, slowly ascending, Shaped by the sun, s…

    Permalink to quote #35

Related quotes

  1. I am come to a tavern alone to eat a steak, after which I shall return to the office.

    Richard SteeleRichard Steele quote #3
  2. I have also considered many scientific plans during my pushing you around in your pram!

    Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein quote #4
  3. I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

    Harry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman quote #16