QuoteProject
The seat of the soul is where the inner world and the outer world meet. Where they overlap, it is in every point of the overlap.
Novalis
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that the essence of our being lies in the intersection of our internal experiences and the external reality.

Novalis emphasizes that the seat of the soul is found at the convergence of our inner thoughts, emotions, and perceptions with the physical world around us. This overlap is significant as it suggests that understanding ourselves requires acknowledging both our inner experiences and the influences of the outside world, highlighting the interconnectedness of being and reality.

Themes

SoulInner WorldOuter WorldOverlapPerception

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about self-discovery, one could use this quote to illustrate the importance of understanding both internal feelings and external circumstances.

More from Novalis

Nothing is more indispensable to true religiosity than a mediator that links us with divinity.
NovalisRead
Every beloved object is the center point of a paradise.
NovalisRead
Man has his being in truth--if he sacrifices truth he sacrifices himself. Whoever betrays truth betrays himself. It is not a question of lying--but of acting against one's conviction.
NovalisRead
Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.
NovalisRead
Learning is pleasurable but doing is the height of enjoyment.
NovalisRead
The highest purpose of intellectual cultivation is to give a man a perfect knowledge and mastery of his own inner self.
NovalisRead

Similar quotes

but that's alright because now everything'll be alright & we'll soothe the forever boys & girls & before we're thru we'll find a name for this Goddam Golden Eternity & tell a story too
Jack KerouacRead
A man who gives himself to be a possession of aliens leads a Yahoo life, having bartered his soul to a brute-master. He is not of them. He may stand against them, persuade himself of a mission, batter and twist them into something which they, of their own accord, would not have been.
T. E. LawrenceRead
Our collective freedom... depends on our ability to defend the rights of others.
Walter MosleyRead
Unfortunately, however much we may deplore something, it does not stop being true.
Richard DawkinsRead
The first question we would ask if aliens landed on this planet is not, 'What does this mean for the economy or jobs?' It would be, 'Are they friendly or unfriendly?'
Peter ThielRead
Bras are a ludicrous invention; but if you make bralessness a rule, you're just subjecting yourself to yet another repression.
Germaine GreerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.