Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.
Don MarquisRead
From 'the lesson of the moth': and before i could argue him out of his philosophy he went and immolated himself on a patent cigar lighter i do not agree with him myself i would rather have half the happiness and twice the longevity but at the same time i wish there was something i wanted as badly as he wanted to fry himself
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the tension between the pursuit of passionate desires and the value of longevity and balance in life.
In this quote, Don Marquis reflects on the extreme dedication of an individual who devotes himself completely to a singular desire, leading to his demise. The speaker admires this fervor even while expressing a preference for a life of moderation and happiness over one of intense passion that could end in self-destruction. It serves as a commentary on the nature of desires and how they shape our lives, highlighting the internal conflict between passion and the pursuit of a stable, prolonged existence.
Themes
PhilosophyDesireLongevityHappinessPassion
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of passion in pursuing our dreams.
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it is better to be a part of beauty for one instant and then cease to exist than to exist forever and never be a part of beauty
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