“I forced myself to picture the last moments. The penultimate breath. A final sigh. And yet. It was always followed by another.”

Source: The History of Love

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Nicole Krauss 65
American novelist 1974

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“And yet I cannot continue in this condition! I have to remind myself to breathe — almost to remind my heart to beat!”

Heathcliff (Ch. XXXIII).
Source: Wuthering Heights (1847)
Context: I have neither a fear, nor a presentiment, nor a hope of death. Why should I? With my hard constitution, and temperate mode of living, and unperilous occupations, I ought to, and probably shall remain above ground, till there is scarcely a black hair on my head. And yet I cannot continue in this condition! I have to remind myself to breathe — almost to remind my heart to beat! And it is like bending back a stiff spring — it is by compulsion that I do the slightest act, not prompted by one thought; and by compulsion that I notice anything alive or dead, which is not associated with one universal idea. I have a single wish, and my whole being and faculties are yearning to attain it. They have yearned towards it so long and so unwaveringly, that I’m convinced it will be reached — and soon — because it has devoured my existence. I am swallowed up in the anticipation of its fulfilment. My confessions have not relieved me — but they may account for some otherwise unaccountable phases of humour which I show. Oh, God! It's a long fight, I wish it were over!

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“When he died I had a moment of grief that lasted about five minutes. It was very intense, then never again. Not because I forced myself, but I think it was because he caused us too much pain.”

Nastassja Kinski (1961) German actress

On her father, Klaus Kinski, as quoted in Cameron Docherty, Interview: Nastassja Kinski - Still a daddy's girl http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/interview-nastassja-kinski--still-a-daddys-girl-1241160.html, The Independent, September 26, 1997

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“Well, he sighed to no one in particular, and looked up into yet another alien sky. Here we are again.”

Source: Culture series, Use of Weapons (1990), Chapter Six (p. 178).

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