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a kind of memory that tells us that what we're now…

“a kind of memory that tells us that what we're now striving for was once nearer and truer and attached to us with infinite tenderness. Here all is distance, there it was breath. After the first home the second one seems draughty and strangely sexed.” quote by Rainer Maria Rilke
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“a kind of memory that tells us that what we're now striving for was once nearer and truer and attached to us with infinite tenderness. Here all is distance, there it was breath. After the first home the second one seems draughty and strangely sexed.”

Rainer Maria Rilke

About This Quote

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

Memory recalls a past ideal that feels closer and more tender than current goals, highlighting distance and longing.

In simple terms: Past ideals feel nearer and more tender than present aims.

Key Takeaway

Cherish past inspirations while moving forward.

Themes

nostalgia longing growth

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • creative writing
  • personal reflection
  • artistic inspiration

Key Concepts

memory idealism temporal distance

Questions to Reflect On

  • What past ideal still inspires you?
  • How do you bridge the gap between past and present?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing the past can impede present progress.

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