What is the past, after all, but a vast sheet of darkness in which a few moments, pricked apparently at random, shine?

What is the past, after all, but a vast sheet of darkness in which a few moments, pricked apparently at random, shine?

John Updike, a prolific American author known for his keen observations of everyday life, often explored the theme of memory and the passage of time in his works. The quote, “What is the past, after all, but a vast sheet of darkness in which a few moments, pricked apparently at random, shine?” encapsulates Updike’s fascination with the fleeting nature of memory and the way in which certain moments from the past stand out in our minds.