If there is one question I dread, to which I have never been able to invent a satisfactory reply, it is the question what am I doing. - Samuel Beckett

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Engraved portrait of Samuel Beckett, facing right

If there is one question I dread, to which I have never been able to invent a satisfactory reply, it is the question what am I doing.

English
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About Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett (13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet and winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote mainly in English and French.

Biography information from Wikiquote · Portrait adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Roger Pic (Public domain / CC0)

Also Known As

Pen Names: Andrew Belis
Alternative Names: Samuel Barclay Beckett Sam Beckett Sa-miao-erh Pei-kʻo-tʻe Samuel Beḳeṭ

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Additional quotes by Samuel Beckett

And in winter, under my greatcoat, I wrapped myself in swathes of newspaper, and did not shed them until the earth awoke, for good, in April. The Times Literary Supplement was admirably adapted to this purpose, of a neverfailing toughness and impermeability. Even farts made no impression on it. I can't help it, gas escapes from my fundament on the least pretext, it's hard not to mention it now and then, however great my distaste. One day I counted them. Three hundred and fifteen farts in nineteen hours, or an average of over sixteen farts an hour. After all it's not excessive. Four farts every fifteen minutes. It's nothing. Not even one fart every four minutes. It's unbelievable. Damn it, I hardly fart at all, I should never have mentioned it.

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The essential is never to arrive anywhere, never to be anywhere. The essential is to go on squirming forever at the edge of the line, as long as there are waters and banks and ravening in heaven a sporting God to plague his creature, per pro his chosen shits. I've swallowed three hooks and am still hungry. Hence the howls. What a joy to know where one is, and where one will stay, without being there. Nothing to do but strech out comfortably on the rack, in the blissful knowledge you are nobody for eternity.

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