... that eternally restless, eternally unquenched desire…
““... that eternally restless, eternally unquenched desire for naked paganism, that love that is the supreme joy, that is divine serenity itself- those things are useless for you moderns, you children of reflection. That sort of love wreaks havoc on you. As soon as you wish to be natural you become normal. To you Nature seems hostile, you have turned us laughing Greek deities into demons and me into a devil. All you can do is exorcise me and curse me or else sacrifice yourselves, slaughter yourselves in bacchanalian madness at my alter. And if you ever has the courage to kiss my red lips, he then goes on a pilgrimage to Rome, barefoot and in a penitent's shirt, and expects flowers to blossom from his withered staff, while roses, violets, and myrtles sprout constantly under my feet- but their fragrance doesn't agree with you, So just stay in your northern fog and Christian incense. Let us pagans rest under the rubble, under lava. Do not dig us up. Pompeii, our villas, our baths, our temples were not built for you people! You need no gods! We freeze in your world!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques modern disdain for pagan, natural impulses, urging a return to primal, unrestrained desire despite societal condemnation.
In simple terms: Modern society rejects natural, pagan desires.
Key Takeaway
Reclaim authentic, untamed impulses.
Themes
culture clash
spirituality
nature vs civilization
rebellion
Mood
defiant
melancholic
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- artistic expression
- cultural criticism
- personal identity
Key Concepts
existentialism
mythology
psychology of desire
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you resist societal norms?
- What primal urges do you suppress?
A Different Perspective
Romanticizing chaos can ignore practical consequences.