Affair Quote by Anonymous
“One felt as if there was an enormous well behind them. Filled up with ages of memory and long, slow, steady thinking; but their surface was sparkling with the present : like sun shimmering on the outer leaves of a vast tree, or on the ripples of a very deep lake. I don’t know, but I t felt as if something that grew in the ground—asleep, you might say, or just feeling itself as something between roof-tip and leaf-tip, between deep earth and sky had suddenly waked up, and was considering you with the same slow care that it had given to its own inside affairs for endless years.”
About This Quote
The passage likens deep, timeless thought to an ancient well, with the present moment shimmering like sunlight on leaves or water, suggesting a connection between deep roots and fleeting surface experiences.
In simple terms: Deep thought is like an ancient well, while the present sparkles on its surface.
Key Takeaway
Value both deep reflection and present awareness.
Themes
reflection
mindfulness
time
perception
nature
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- meditation
- creative writing
- personal growth
- nature observation
- psychology
Key Concepts
philosophy
metaphor
consciousness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance deep contemplation with everyday tasks?
- What does the “well” represent in your life?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may over‑romanticize introspection, neglecting practical action.
