Anyone know what this quote means?

[VR3]

I saw a man pursuing the horizon.

Round and Round they sped.

I was disturbed at this.

I accosted the man.

"It is futile." I said

"You can never --"

"You lie!" He cried.

And ran on.

- Stephen Crane

This quote freaking rocks, but I dont have a clue what it means. :(

[bobman1235]

I remember Stephen Crane from high school english class. One odd duck, and I never understood a word he wrote.

[PolkThug]

The earth perpetually spins??

[audiobliss]

It seems to me that one observed another "running into the horizon", pursuing his heart's dream, running fractically about in an attempt to make it happen. The onlooker was taken aback by it and matter-of-factly told the 'dreamer' it can't be done. At which point the man denounced his advice and ran on in continued pursuit of his dream with the utmost confidence that he could obtain it. That perseverence if often times why things can be accomplished.

Reminds me of Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is.

They say, "Hey little boy you can't go
Where the others go
'Cause you don't look like they do"
Said, "Hey old man
How can you stand to think that way
Did you really think about it
Before you made the rules"
He said, son

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them

[VR3]

Very nice... makes alot of sense now...

Quote kicks absolute @$$.

[bpadget]

It means that one should take some time to understand ones goals before chasing after them. edit: It's an observation of two different ways of looking at something. The realist and the dreamer. If you'll notice there is no judgement that either is better. I lean toward the realist myself.

[I-SIG]

It seems to me that one observed another "running into the horizon", pursuing his heart's dream, running fractically about in an attempt to make it happen. The onlooker was taken aback by it and matter-of-factly told the 'dreamer' it can't be done. At which point the man denounced his advice and ran on in continued pursuit of his dream with the utmost confidence that he could obtain it. That perseverence if often times why things can be accomplished.

Reminds me of Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is.

I was gonna say something along these lines. Supposedly all of us Crane's are related somewhere along the line.

Wes C.

[audiobliss]

It means that one should take some time to understand ones goals before chasing after them.

Interesting interpretation...I like it!


but I like mine more! :D

[Emlyn]

I remember Stephen Crane from high school english class. One odd duck, and I never understood a word he wrote.

Yes, he was a crackpot--

Many workmen
Built a huge ball of masonry
Upon a mountaintop.
Then they went to the valley below,
And turned to behold their work.
"It is grand," they said;
They loved the thing.

Of a sudden, it moved.
It came upon them swiftly;
It crushed them all to blood.
But some had opportunity to squeal.

[VR3]

Thats even cooler than mine!! hahaha

That one I understand a bit better...

Sometimes man made things, no matter how amazing - will always come crashing down. - Atleast to me.

Stephen Crane may be bumped up to one of my favorite author dudes.

[audiobliss]

But why does he point out that some had time to squeal? What's the relevance with that?

[VR3]

Kind of like the song...

Casting Crowns - American Dream
"He says things will get better
Better in time
So he works
He builds with his own two hands
He pours all he has into a castle made of stand
But the wind, the rain, are coming crashing in
Time will tell just how long his kingdom stands."

Its kind of like we build these amazing things, to make our castle on earth - but forget the more important things in life - whatever you find is important. Maybe someone squealing is what he meant, people gave off the warning that we/the builders were losing sight.

[PolkThug]

Sid, don't be gettin' all Emo on us...

[VR3]

Emo?

Huh?

The band I quoted is a christian rock band...

its about a Dad that worked all the time to make his life better, but lost the time for his family... *mark me confused*

[PolkThug]

http://www.filecabi.net/v/file/1118219367/wmv

[VR3]

Yeah...ummm - ok...

While thats funny... it dosnt apply to me...

I wear steel toe boots in the winter, jeans that are loose with tons of pockets and T-Shirts that look like I work in them every day 1st and 4th block (which I do)...

And my hair is only an inch long and I plan to cut it down to about 1/8" soon...

I do however like english, and almost every aspect of it on a enjoyment scale, the learning part is boring - but I enjoy cool stories, books, quotes, poems - english rocks.

BTW - that video rocks and is very true. The Emo/Goth trend is getting old and no one likes to see guys wearing girl pants.

[madmax]

If it ain't from Road Warrior I have no clue...
madmax

[aaharvel]

Bliss got it right. "they" meaning the voice in his head urging the pursuit, the other voice telling him to conform and be "realistic".

[brettw22]

How can a quote 'freakin rock' when you have no idea what it even means?

[audiobliss]

and no one likes to see guys wearing girl pants.

*has to watch video clip to see that*


Good question, Brett.

aaharvel - I wondered what exactly the 'they' referred to. That makes perfect sense. Sounds like you've studied it rather recently.

[VR3]

I think ALOT of things are cool I dont understand.

I liked the way the quote was worded - so cool that I actually wrote it down just to figure out what it meant. I have read very little quotes that made me do that lol...

Dude just turn on a skateboarding competition, they all are girl pants wearing freaks! haha...

There are dudes at my school that wear em too...very...odd

[madmax]

Skateboarders wear girls pants? Huh???
madmax

[VR3]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/livin...s/13443862.htm

[George Grand]

Don't read too much into it. It just sounds to me like Crane was pretty certain the earth was round.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[F1nut]

GG........always the voice of reason!

[RuSsMaN]

Voice of reason? You know he's in Zoo Jersey, right?

If there was an inverse to the Seven Wonders of the World, something like the Seven Banes of the Earth, the Turnpike would be one of them. Definitely no gardens. It's all nasty roads and hopeless landscapes.

They call their beach "the shore." That's just senseless. It's also unattractive. And toxic. Atlantic City? Come on, that's the nastiest "shore" on the entire east coast. It's just a second-rate circle-jerk for all the losers who can't afford the trip to Vegas.

What about the music? The Boss came from Jersey, man! C'mon! The last time Springsteen had a hit, or anything close, was when he played the theme for that movie where Tom Hanks was gay.

It is a dark, evil place. The roads are post-apocalyptic. You can't make a left turn in Jersey to save your life. Speaking of evil, their hockey team is called the Devils. No coincidence.

But I digress, I do love at least ONE family 'up' there.

Cheers,
Russ

[audiobliss]

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/livin...s/13443862.htm

That's just too weird.

[StopherJJ1980]

The whole quote is about a guy pursuing a goal that is unattainable, and his response when told that it is unattainable shows the level of his denial/obsession/etc. All the rest of the symbolism or meaning is up to you.

I find it kind of interesting and clever. Anyone trying to explain a truth to someone who just doesnt get it or is in denial knows this feeling... I get it all the time as a counselor talking to troubled kids and telling them what to do, what not to do and how mental illness/addiction works "It's futile". And then having them battle with that as their denial kicks in. "And they run on..."

[dbartol1]

How fast can this guy run??? Hmmm? I'm thinking if he stops running, waits 24 hours, his problem will be solved. I hope he has a camera.

[scottnbnj]

assuming full context, there's nothing in the text that confirms whether the accoster even knew the true intentions of the runner, much less the futility,.. just another buttinski jumping to conclusions or sloppy depth pretension.

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