The way of the world is to bloom and to flower and die but in the affairs of men there is no waning and the noon of his expression signals the onset of night. His spirit is exhausted at the peak of its achievement. His meridian is at once his darkening and the evening of his day.
The passage reflects on the transient nature of life and contrasts it with human aspirations. It suggests that like all living things, individuals experience a cycle of growth and decline. While nature exhibits a clear pattern of blooming and withering, human experiences are marked by intense moments of achievement that can lead to a sense of exhaustion and despair. Just as flowers bloom beautifully before fading, people's greatest expressions can also signal the beginning of their decline.
This perspective reveals a more somber view of human existence, where peak moments may coincide with ultimate fatigue. The idea that one's highest point is simultaneously the beginning of their downfall underscores the fleeting nature of success and fulfillment. In McCarthy's narrative, the "noon of expression" represents a pivotal moment that, while celebrated, also hints at impending darkness, capturing the complexity of human experience in a world that seems unrelenting.
