Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Anna Burns

Quote by Anna Burns

“Whatever he had been and whatever he'd been called, he was gone, so I did what usually I did around death which was to forget all about it. The whole shambles - as in the old meaning of shambles, as in slaughterhouse, blood-house, meat market, business-as-usual - once again took hold. Deciding to miss my French night class, I put on my make-up and got ready to go to the club. This was to the brightest, the busiest, the most popular of the eleven drinking-clubs existing in our small area and as for going: drinking clubs were the exact places you would go, exactly what you would do, when both hyper and deadened and in need of alcohol.”

Quote by Anna Burns

Book:Milkman
Create image

Work

Milkman

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Anna Burns

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Anna Burns. more

You May Also Like

“Destiny rewards the cultivated. Be the one who’s ready before the room knows it needs you.”

Personal GrowthEmotional IntelligenceGrowth StrategyExecutive MindsetInfluence ImpactLeadership PsychologyModern Leadership
Book:The Everyday Strategist: Develop strategic leadership and management skills with practical lessons on building resilience, leading through uncertainty, and connecting theory to real-world practice
Create image

“Just what did Maria tell you?" he asked softly. Carlos lowered his voice, "She says that she has fallen in love with you. You make her heart feel happy, in a way that it never has before. Surely señor, knowing this, you will stay and marry Tis Maria?" Trey hesitated. "She told you that?" "Yes, Señor Trey. She whispered in my ear, so that Juan would not hear her. Now you must change your plans and stay with us." Trey let out a sigh. "It ain't quite that easy, son. There are lots of other things to consider." Carlos pinched his brow. "What other things?" "It's hard to explain," Trey said. "Maybe when you're a little older, you'll understand. A man and a woman have to talk about lots of things before they become husband and wife.' Then Carlos took a step closer to Trey, and there was a plea in his voice when he spoke. "Please talk to her, then. Talk about those things, so you can stay with us forever." Trey chuckled softly. "Forever's a long time. And there's lots of things we'd have to talk about. But I'm glad you told me how she feels about me. I'll talk to her sometime, when we're alone." Carlos smiled now. "Tonight would be a good time. After Juan and Señor Stiles are asleep," he said boldly. Trey almost laughed out loud. "There'll be plenty of time for that," he said.”

LoveTimeRelationshipsHeart Break
Book:Santa Fe Showdown
Create image

“Nada retrata tanto la desesperanza como decir: así transcurrieron días, meses, años. Indefensos, delegamos en la sucesión fatal del tiempo, que es idéntica para todos, el avance de una corrupción que allana toda resistencia y sólo nos afecta a nosotros, recortándose contra el fondo del tiempo como una silueta a contraluz sobre una pantalla quieta. ¿Era el transcurso de los días lo que yo padecía, o más bien el privilegio de ser contemporáneo de mi propia degradación, el testigo de la evidencias que con el correr de las horas iban apartándome de lo humano? Que fueran sólo días no me consolaba; la crueldad vuelve irrisoria cualquier medida de tiempo. Así, pues, transcurrieron días, y a cada minuto sentía adelgazarse la diferencia que había entre mi cuerpo y su herida. El espacio, la ciudad, las distancias se desfiguraban a mi alrededor, se contraían en nudos álgidos y terminaban volatilizándose en el aire como si nunca hubieran sido otra cosa que ilusiones. Es probable que eso sea el Infierno: ese aire que sobrevive, intacto, a la desaparición de todas las cosas, y que envuelve como una esfera diáfana el espectáculo del derrumbe personal. Cada día que pasaba mi sufrimiento dividía el mundo por alguno de sus componentes. Un día eran las calles, otro el cielo, después eran los rostros, la luz, el idioma, y así seguido. El transcurso del tiempo no era más que esa obstinada voluntad de dividir; el resultado, como es previsible, iba decreciendo progresivamente. ¿Llegaría alguna vez a cero? Esa esperanza fue la última en abandonarme. El mundo, en efecto, es infinitamente divisible; tiende a cero, pero la cifra ínfima a la que esas divisiones lo acercan refleja menos un decrecimiento que una depuración, como si del otro lado de tanta resta no acechara el vacío sino la falta absoluta de estilo: el infierno desnudo.”

HopelessnessHitting Bottom
Author:Alan Pauls
Create image