We felt very nice and snug, the more so since it was so…
““We felt very nice and snug, the more so since it was so chilly out of doors; indeed out of bed-clothes too, seeing that there was no fire in the room. The more so, I say, because truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself. If you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable, and have been so a long time, then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more. But if the tip of your nose or the crown of your head be slightly chilled, why then, indeed, in the general consciousness you feel delightfully and unmistakably warm. For this reason a sleeping apartment should never be furnished with a fire, which is one of the luxurious discomforts of the rich. For the height of this sort of deliciousness is to have nothing but the blanket between you and your snugness and the cold of the outer air. Then there you lie like the one warm spark in the heart of an arctic crystal.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Comfort arises from contrast; warmth is appreciated only when juxtaposed with cold, highlighting that sensations depend on relative differences.
In simple terms: Warmth feels good because of surrounding cold.
Key Takeaway
Embrace contrast to value experiences.
Themes
comfort
contrast
perception
temperature
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- winter living
- design of interiors
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- What contrasts in your life enhance your appreciation?
- Can you find comfort without a contrasting element?
A Different Perspective
Relying on contrast can make comfort fleeting and dependent on external conditions.