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Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They…

“Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They only see the veil, and thus they know not what they stand so near!” quote by Alexander Smith
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“Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They only see the veil, and thus they know not what they stand so near!”

Alexander Smith

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Time masks the eternal, so people focus on the fleeting veil and miss the profound reality beyond it.

In simple terms: Time hides eternity’s true face.

Key Takeaway

Temporal focus obscures deeper truths.

Themes

time eternity perception philosophy

Mood

pondering melancholic

Type

poetic metaphysical

When to use this quote

  • Contemplating mortality
  • Studying cosmology
  • Mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

epistemic limitation metaphysical concealment

Practical Applications

  • Shift attention from surface to underlying meaning
  • Cultivate patience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does focusing on the present limit understanding of the infinite?
  • Can we ever truly perceive eternity?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may over‑emphasize separation between time and eternity, which some philosophies view as intertwined.

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