We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we were travelling in the night of first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign—and no memories.
 Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (1899). copy citation

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Author Joseph Conrad
Source Heart of Darkness
Topic understanding remembrance memories
Date 1899
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/219/219-h/219-h.htm

Context

“The prehistoric man was cursing us, praying to us, welcoming us—who could tell? We were cut off from the comprehension of our surroundings; we glided past like phantoms, wondering and secretly appalled, as sane men would be before an enthusiastic outbreak in a madhouse. We could not understand because we were too far and could not remember because we were travelling in the night of first ages, of those ages that are gone, leaving hardly a sign—and no memories.
«The earth seemed unearthly. We are accustomed to look upon the shackled form of a conquered monster, but there—there you could look at a thing monstrous and free. It was unearthly, and the men were—No, they were not inhuman.” source

Meaning and analysis

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