Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the…
““Why did the old Persians hold the sea holy? Why did the Greeks give it a separate deity, and own brother of Jove? Surely all this is not without meaning. And still deeper the meaning of that story of Narcissus, who because he could not grasp the tormenting, mild image he saw in the fountain, plunged into it and was drowned. But that same image, we ourselves see in all rivers and oceans. It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this is the key to it all.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The sea symbolizes life's elusive mysteries; Narcissus’s drowned reflection shows humanity’s futile grasp on the ungraspable.
In simple terms: Life’s mysteries are like an untouchable image in water.
Key Takeaway
Accept mystery, seek meaning without obsession.
Themes
philosophy
mythology
existentialism
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative writing
- spiritual contemplation
Key Concepts
symbolism
human condition
mythic archetype
Questions to Reflect On
- What “ungraspable” does you pursue?
- How can you find peace with uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on the ungraspable can lead to paralysis.