John Banville

John Banville (born 1945) is an Irish novelist known for lyrical, intellectually rigorous fiction and for winning the 2005 Booker Prize for The Sea. His work often explores memory and identity, reflected in the line 'The past beats inside me like a second heart.'

Quotes by John Banville

Quotes: 1

The past beats inside me like a second heart. — John Banville

The Past’s Enduring Pulse Within Our Lives

Ultimately, Banville’s image urges us to embrace the interplay between past and present. Rather than seeking to ignore or escape our history, we might learn to listen to its rhythm—allowing it to inform, but not control, our decisions. In so doing, the second heart becomes a source of wisdom, empowering us to move forward with greater self-awareness and purpose. [...]

Created on: 5/6/2025