"In his state of complete powerlessness the individual perceives the time he has left to live as a brief reprieve"

This quote by Theodor Adorno talks to the experience of powerlessness and how it affects an individual's perception of time. When someone feels totally powerless, they are stripped of their firm and control over their own life. In this state, the specific becomes acutely aware of the restricted time they have left to live. This awareness can be both scary and liberating. On one hand, it can develop a sense of seriousness to maximize the time they have left. On the other hand, it can likewise seem like a short reprieve from the consistent battle and suffering that includes feeling powerless. Adorno's words highlight the complex and often conflicting feelings that develop when one is faced with their own death in a state of powerlessness.