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The diaries of opium-eaters record how, during the brief…

“The diaries of opium-eaters record how, during the brief period of ecstasy, the drugged person's dreams have a temporal scope of ten, thirty, sometimes sixty years or even surpass all limits of man's ability to experience time--dreams, that is, whose imaginary time span vastly exceeds their actual…” quote by Thomas Mann
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““The diaries of opium-eaters record how, during the brief period of ecstasy, the drugged person's dreams have a temporal scope of ten, thirty, sometimes sixty years or even surpass all limits of man's ability to experience time--dreams, that is, whose imaginary time span vastly exceeds their actual duration and which are characterized by an incredible diminishment of the experience of time, with images thronging past so swiftly that, as one hashish-smoke puts it, the intoxicated user's brain seems "to have something removed, like the mainspring from a broken watch.””

Thomas Mann

About This Quote

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

Intoxication can warp perception of time, making brief moments feel endless.

In simple terms: Drugs stretch subjective time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how altered states distort reality.

Themes

perception time intoxication subjectivity

Mood

introspective cautionary

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

  • drug use
  • creative imagination
  • mindfulness

Key Concepts

neuroscience philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does altered perception affect decisions?
  • Can you stay grounded without substances?
A Different Perspective

Such distortion can impair judgment.

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