Astronomy Quote by Arthur Schopenhauer
““Authors can be divided into meteors, planets and fixed stars. The meteors produce a loud momentary effect; we look up, shout 'see there!' and then they are gone for ever. The planets and comets last for a much longer time…The fixed stars alone are constant and unalterable; their position in the firmament is fixed; they have their own light and are at all times active, because they do not alter their appearance through a change in our standpoint, for they have no parallax. Unlike the others, they do not belong to one system (nation) alone, but to the world. But just because they are situated so high, their light usually requires many years before it becomes visible to the inhabitatns of earth.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: On the Nature of Authors, 1851
Authors vary in impact: fleeting meteors, lasting planets/comets, and immutable fixed stars whose work endures across cultures and time.
In simple terms: Some writers last forever, others are brief.
Key Takeaway
Recognize enduring contributions.
Themes
literature
legacy
influence
timelessness
cultural impact
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- cultural policy
- archival work
- translation
Key Concepts
meteors
planets
fixed stars
parallax
global relevance
Questions to Reflect On
- Which works have become fixed stars for you?
- How does cultural context shift an author's lasting impact?
A Different Perspective
Even fixed stars can be reinterpreted, altering perceived permanence.
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![“[Materialism] seeks the primary and most simple state of matter, and then tries to develop all the others from it; ascending from mere mechanism, to chemism, to polarity, to the vegetable and to the animal kingdom. And if we suppose this to have been done, the last link in the chain would be…” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88c/arthur-schopenhauer-226_animal-kingdom_materialism-seeks-the-primary-and-most-s_50402.jpg)
