The quote reflects on the inevitability of death and its unexpected arrival, suggesting that we cannot control when it happens. The author uses imagery of a sheep and sand to illustrate the fragility of life and existence, pointing to how easily and insignificantly an individual can vanish from the world.

Furthermore, the notion of not being able to respond to life indicates a struggle with resilience against the forces of fate. It emphasizes the futility of pretending to be strong when faced with the profound realities of mortality and vulnerability in life, as captured in Naguib Mahfouz's work.