The more formidable the contradiction between…
““The more formidable the contradiction between inexhaustible life-joy and inevitable fate, the greater the longing which reveals itself in the kingdom of poetry and in the self-created world of dreams hopes to banish the dark power of reality. The gods enjoy eternal youth, and the search for the means of securing it was one of the occupations of the heroes of mythology and the sages, as it was of real adventurers in the middle ages and more recent times. . . . But the fountain of youth has not been found, and can not be found if it is sought in any particular spot on the earth. Yet it is no fable, no dream-picture; it requires no adept to find it: it streams forth inexhaustible in all living nature.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human yearning for eternal youth clashes with inevitable fate, yet the quest for joy and hope persists across ages.
In simple terms: Desire for youth vs. fate.
Key Takeaway
Embrace joy despite limits.
Themes
existential
hope
youth
fate
myth
philosophy
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
biology:1
death:1
dreams:1
eternal youth:1
eternity:1
fate:1
fountain of youth:1
gods:1
heroes:1
hope:1
joy:1
life:1
longing:1
microbiology:0
middle ages:0
mythology:0
nature:1
poetry:1
reality:1
science:1
youth:1
fountain youth:0
contradiction inexhaustible:0
inexhaustible life:0
formidable contradiction:0
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- therapy
- spiritual practice
- philosophical discussion
- life coaching
Key Concepts
eternal youth
human longing
mythic archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- What gives your life meaning?
- How do you balance hope and reality?
A Different Perspective
Seeking a literal fountain of youth is futile.