"I will give you three days to seek your shadow. Return to me in the course of that time with a well-fitted shadow, and you shall receive a hearty welcome; otherwise, on the fourth day - remember, on the fourth day - my daughter becomes the wife of another"
- Adelbert von Chamisso
About this Quote
This quote is from Adelbert von Chamisso's story, Peter Schlemihl. In the story, Peter Schlemihl has sold his shadow to the devil in exchange for a magical purse. The devil is now giving Peter 3 days to find a brand-new shadow. If Peter is able to find a new shadow in the 3 days, he will be invited back with open arms. However, if he stops working to discover a new shadow in the three days, then on the fourth day, the devil's daughter will be married off to somebody else. This quote is an alerting to Peter that he must act rapidly and discover a brand-new shadow in the 3 days or else he will lose his chance to be reunited with the devil's daughter. It also acts as a suggestion to Peter that time is of the essence and he need to act rapidly if he wants to be successful.
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