But this momentous question, like a fire bell in the night, awakened and filled me with terror.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, expresses the speaker's profound response to a significant question or issue. The phrase "like a fire bell in the night" implies that the question or issue jolts them out of their complacency, symbolizing the sudden urgency and alarm it evokes. The word "momentous" suggests the gravity and magnitude of the matter at hand. The speaker feels a deep sense of fear or anxiety, showing the immense impact and potentially far-reaching consequences the question holds for them.