This sadness lies at the heart of every merely…
““This sadness lies at the heart of every merely positivistic, agnostic, or naturalistic scheme of philosophy. Let sanguine healthy-mindedness do its best with its strange power of living in the moment and ignoring and forgetting, still the evil background is really there to be thought of, and the skull will grin in at the banquet. In the practical life of the individual, we know how his whole gloom or glee about any present fact depends on the remoter schemes and hopes with which it stands related. Its significance and framing give it the chief part of its value. Let it be known to lead nowhere, and however agreeable it may be in its immediacy, its glow and gilding vanish. The old man, sick with an insidious internal disease, may laugh and quaff his wine at first as well as ever, but he knows his fate now, for the doctors have revealed it; and the knowledge knocks the satisfaction out of all these functions. They are partners of death and the worm is their brother, and they turn to a mere flatness.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Human consciousness is always colored by deeper existential concerns, even when we try to live in the present.
In simple terms: Our thoughts are shaped by deeper hopes and fears.
Key Takeaway
Recognize hidden existential layers.
Themes
existentialism
psychology
philosophy
meaning
death
Mood
reflective
melancholic
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal decision
- artistic creation
- medical diagnosis
- grief counseling
Key Concepts
subjectivity
nihilism
temporal awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do hidden hopes influence daily choices?
- Can present‑moment focus coexist with existential awareness?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring deeper context leads to shallow satisfaction.