... and to-morrow looked in my face more steadily than I could look at it

... and to-morrow looked in my face more steadily than I could look at it

📖 Charles Dickens

🌍 English  |  👨‍💼 Novelist

🎂 February 7, 1812  –  ⚰️ June 9, 1870
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This quote evokes a profound sense of anticipation and apprehension about the future. The person speaking feels overwhelmed by the inevitable approach of tomorrow, which appears to scrutinize them more closely than they are able to scrutinize it in return. It brings to mind the universal human experience of confronting the unknown, especially when facing significant changes, decisions, or forthcoming events. The person’s inability to look at tomorrow directly suggests a mixture of fear, curiosity, and perhaps a sense of powerlessness in the face of time's relentless march. This sentiment resonates deeply because we often find ourselves dreading the future but also compelled to confront it, whether through hope or anxiety. The imagery of the future 'looking' at the individual confers a personified quality to time itself, emphasizing its gaze as something demanding attention and accountability. Such a reflection underscores the tension between our desires to control or understand what is to come and our helplessness when faced with life's unfolding events. In literature and personal experience, this theme appears frequently — the moment where future events loom large and threaten to redefine our present understanding. The quote beautifully captures this complex emotional landscape, illustrating how fear of the unknown can sometimes feel as intense as an entity observing us, scrutinizing our readiness or unpreparedness. Ultimately, it invites introspection about how we brace ourselves mentally and emotionally for what is yet to unfold while recognizing the limits of our perception and control.

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August 01, 2025

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