Famous quote by Ralph Ellison

"The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead"

About this Quote

Ralph Ellison’s enigmatic phrase, “The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead,” resonates with cyclical notions of time, fate, and the human experience. At first glance, it speaks to the interconnectedness of origins and outcomes. The choices made at inception shape the trajectory and ultimate culmination of any endeavor, relationship, or life itself. Beginnings, therefore, are imbued with the seeds of their own endings, suggesting an inevitability or destiny at work. This view evokes the myth of the ouroboros, the serpent devouring its own tail, symbolizing eternal return and the idea that every conclusion contains traces of its origin.

Yet, the quote also acknowledges the distance between start and finish, emphasizing the journey, the unfolding narrative of existence. The path from beginning to end is never instantaneous; it is a process teeming with uncertainties, struggles, and transformations. The phrase “lies far ahead” introduces hope and possibility. While the end may be implicit in the beginning, it remains a horizon to move toward, not an immediate or predictable outcome. This aspect underscores the tension between determinism and agency: while some elements of the end are set in motion from the outset, the future remains open, shaped by the actions and responses of individuals as they navigate their lives.

Ralph Ellison, deeply concerned with issues of identity, history, and social progression, often evoked the cyclical struggles faced by marginalized people in America. The idea that beginnings contain ends hints at systemic patterns, how history often repeats, how oppression begets resistance, and how personal struggles mirror collective journeys. Yet, Ellison also affirms the capacity for renewal and change. Recognizing the end within the beginning encourages reflection, vigilance, and the possibility of shaping a different outcome. Life is constant movement between potential and realization, memory and aspiration, where every commencement is invested with what has come before and what is yet to unfold.

About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Ralph Ellison between March 1, 1914 and April 16, 1994. He/she was a famous Author from USA. The author also have 18 other quotes.
Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Nicholas Lea, Actor
T. S. Eliot, Poet