And yet, and yet, in these our ghostly lives, Half night, half day, half sleeping, half awake, How if our waking life, like that of sleep, Be all a dream in that eternal life To which we wake not till we sleep in death
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
What is life? A madness. What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story. And the greatest good is little enough: for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the ephemeral and illusory nature of life and reality, suggesting that life is akin to a dream.
In this quote, Pedro Calderon De La Barca contemplates the nature of existence by asserting that life is filled with madness, illusions, and shadows. He emphasizes the idea that life is not as concrete as it seems, being more like a story or a dream, which invites reflection on the deeper meaning of our experiences and the transient nature of reality itself. By stating that 'the greatest good is little enough,' he suggests that even our highest achievements are small in the grand scheme of existence, mirroring the fleeting quality of dreams.
Themes
LifeDreamIllusionPhilosophyExistenceReality
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a philosophy conference might use this quote to illustrate the theme of existentialism.
More from Pedro Calderon De La Barca
All quotes →But whether it be dream or truth, to do well is what matters. If it be truth, for truth's sake. If not, then to gain friends for the time when we awaken.
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
Tis not where we lie but whence we fell; the loss of Heaven's the greatest pain in Hell.
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
In this treacherous world Nothing is the truth nor a lie. Everything depends on the color Of the crystal through which one sees it
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
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