Once again, we have an indication of Eliot's fascination with indecision and mental paralysis. Consider the wording: "The awful daring of a moment's surrender." What is so awful about taking a chance on life? I would have said, "The wonderful daring of a moment's surrender!" But then, Eliot most likely chose his wording to highlight the difficulty of making even the simple choices of daily life - let alone the weighty matters which the thunder would be contemplating.