...I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire...I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.
In this profound quote from William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury", the speaker presents a metaphorical mausoleum representing the collective hopes and desires of life. This is offered not as a way to cling to memories of the past, but rather to encourage a momentary escape from the relentless passage of time and its burdens. The sentiment reflects a deep understanding that constantly battling against time is futile.
Furthermore, the speaker conveys a sense of disillusionment about the nature of victory. They suggest that true battles are never fought in the external sense; instead, they reveal an individual's inner weaknesses, folly, and despair. Ultimately, the notion that victory exists is portrayed as a mere illusion, one that only the naïve or philosophical might cherish. This commentary invites reflection on the futility of striving against the inevitable flow of time.
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