“There are moments when my mind misses a beat. I find myself, in mid-step or mid-breath, feeling as if delivered abruptly into my body after a long absence (spent where, I could not say), or a long, dreamless sleep. I lose not my memory, merely my thread. My attention has inexplicably wandered, but a little calm introspection restores my context and brings me peace. Almost peace.”

—  Greg Egan

Mind Vampires http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/HORROR/VAMPIRES/Vampires.html, published in Interzone (Winter 1986)
Fiction

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "There are moments when my mind misses a beat. I find myself, in mid-step or mid-breath, feeling as if delivered abruptl…" by Greg Egan?
Greg Egan photo
Greg Egan 23
Australian science fiction writer and former computer progr… 1961

Related quotes

Letitia Elizabeth Landon photo
Mary Wollstonecraft photo
Brendan Behan photo

“When I came back to Dublin, I was courtmartialled in my absence and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.”

Brendan Behan (1923–1964) Irish poet, short story writer, novelist, and playwright

Hostage (1958)

Gloria Estefan photo
Kristoff St. John photo
Emily Brontë photo

“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!

Thomas Mann photo

“I have an epic, not a dramatic nature. My disposition and my desires call for peace to spin my thread, for a steady rhythm in life and art.”

Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German novelist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate

Nobel Banquet Speech (10 December 1929) http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1929/mann-speech.html

Sarada Devi photo

“My child, I bless you from my heart that you live long, attain devotion, and enjoy peace. Peace is the principal thing. One needs peace alone.”

Sarada Devi (1853–1920) Hindu religious figure, spiritual consort of Ramakrishna

[Swami Tapasyananda, Swami Nikhilananda, Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations, 315]

Louis C.K. photo

“I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen. Thank you for reading.”

Louis C.K. (1967) American comedian and actor

Statement in response to allegations of sexual misconduct, "Louis C.K. Responds to Accusations: ‘These Stories Are True’" https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/10/arts/television/louis-ck-statement.html, New York Times, Nov 10, 2017.

Related topics