"The immense majority of human biographies are a gray transit between domestic spasm and oblivion"
- George Steiner
About this Quote
This quote by George Steiner speaks to the concept that most of human lives are mundane and typical. He recommends that most people's lives are a journey between moments of intense emotion and ultimate oblivion. The phrase "domestic spasm" suggests an abrupt, extreme feeling, such as a family argument or a moment of joy. This is contrasted with the idea of oblivion, which suggests a lack of acknowledgment or remembrance. Steiner's quote suggests that many people's lives are filled with minutes of intense emotion, however that these minutes are short lived and ultimately forgotten. He suggests that the majority of human biographies are not impressive or noteworthy, however rather are a journey in between moments of intense feeling and eventual oblivion.
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