There is a sacred horror about everything grand. It is…
““There is a sacred horror about everything grand. It is easy to admire mediocrity and hills; but whatever is too lofty, a genius as well as a mountain, an assembly as well as a masterpiece, seen too near, is appalling. Every summit seems an exaggeration. Climbing wearies. The steepnesses take away one's breath; we slip on the slopes, we are hurt by the sharp points which are its beauty; the foaming torrents betray the precipices, clouds hide the mountain tops; mounting is full of terror, as well as a fall. Hence, there is more dismay than admiration. People have a strange feeling of aversion to anything grand. They see abysses, they do not see sublimity; they see the monster, they do not see the prodigy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Greatness often terrifies; people prefer the familiar over the awe‑inspiring, fearing the overwhelming.
In simple terms: Grand things can scare us more than they inspire.
Key Takeaway
Embrace awe, not aversion.
Themes
awe
fear
grandiosity
human nature
Mood
introspective
melancholy
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- mountain climbing
- career ambition
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existential dread
beauty in danger
psychology of admiration
Questions to Reflect On
- What fears arise when you confront something truly magnificent?
- How can you transform awe into motivation?
A Different Perspective
Grand achievements can cause paralysis, not just inspiration.