--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you throw even a cursory glance into…" description: "\"“If you throw even a cursory glance into the past, at the life which lies behind you, not even recalling its most vivid moments, you are struck every t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84d/andrei-tarkovsky-3522_art_if-you-throw-even-a-cursory-glance-into_1783215.jpg" --- # If you throw even a cursory glance into the past, at the… ![“If you throw even a cursory glance into the past, at the life which lies behind you, not even recalling its most vivid moments, you are struck every time by the singularity of the events in which you took part, the unique individuality of the characters whom you met. This singularity is like the…” quote by Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84d/andrei-tarkovsky-3522_art_if-you-throw-even-a-cursory-glance-into_1783215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84d/andrei-tarkovsky-3522_art_if-you-throw-even-a-cursory-glance-into_1783215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84d/andrei-tarkovsky-3522_art_if-you-throw-even-a-cursory-glance-into_1783215.jpg) > ““If you throw even a cursory glance into the past, at the life which lies behind you, not even recalling its most vivid moments, you are struck every time by the singularity of the events in which you took part, the unique individuality of the characters whom you met. This singularity is like the dominant note of every moment of existence; in each moment of life, the life principle itself is unique. The artist therefore tries to grasp that principle and make it incarnate, new each time; and each time he hopes, though in vain, to achieve an exhaustive image of the Truth of human existence. The quality of beauty is in the truth of life.”” [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each moment of life is uniquely singular, and the artist seeks to capture this truth, though fully grasping it may be impossible. **In simple terms:** Every moment is unique; art tries to capture it. Key Takeaway Embrace life's uniqueness. Themes art philosophy existence memory Mood reflective poetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative practice - historical analysis Key Concepts subjectivity truth‑seeking temporal singularity Questions to Reflect On - What singular moments shape your life? - How can art convey personal truth? A Different Perspective Art cannot fully encapsulate truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Existence Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-quality-1880766/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuality/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-principle/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Principle Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-unique-1880765/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-of-life/) [Unique Individuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-individuality-355223/) ## Related quotes > [“I think that is the very definition of a family: a group of individuals, bound by the essence of love, who share a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-magliato/i-think-that-is-the-very-definition-of-a-family-a-group-of/) [Kathy Magliato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-magliato/) > [This is my real concern: to give each film a unique individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bass/this-is-my-real-concern-to-give-each-film-a-unique-individuality/) [Saul Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bass/) > [“The minute a business groups people into categories, it diminishes their unique individuality, which is the most sustainable source of their motivation and desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-sanford/the-minute-a-business-groups-people-into-categories-it-diminishes/) [Carol Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-sanford/) > [Don't mistake someones unique individuality as weakness or weirdness, if you do your likely to be one of those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-shaylitsa/don-t-mistake-someones-unique-individuality-as-weakness-or-weirdness/) [Edward Shaylitsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-shaylitsa/) > [God does not require us to understand His will, just obey it seems unreasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-does-not-require-us-to-understand-his-will-just-obey-it-seems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God tells us to come boldly into His presence. 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When a man is just born, he is weak and flexible. When he dies, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/weakness-is-a-great-thing-and-strength-is-nothing-when-a-man-is-just/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) [Explore all 120 Andrei Tarkovsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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