--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There comes a moment during which almost…" description: "\"There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy falls into melancholy; they are tormented by a vague inquietude which rests on everything an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_there-comes-a-moment-during-which-almost_1366208.jpg" --- # There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy… ![“There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy falls into melancholy; they are tormented by a vague inquietude which rests on everything and finds nothing to calm it. They seek solitude; they weep; the silence to be found in cloister attracts them: the image of peace that seems to…” quote by Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_there-comes-a-moment-during-which-almost_1366208.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_there-comes-a-moment-during-which-almost_1366208.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/denis-diderot-1536_atheism_there-comes-a-moment-during-which-almost_1366208.jpg) > “There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy falls into melancholy; they are tormented by a vague inquietude which rests on everything and finds nothing to calm it. They seek solitude; they weep; the silence to be found in cloister attracts them: the image of peace that seems to reign in religious houses seduces them. They mistake the first manifestations of a developing sexual nature for the voice of God calling them to Himself; and it is precisely when nature is inciting them that they embrace a fashion of life contrary to nature's wish.” [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adolescents often feel a vague, restless melancholy, seeking solitude and mistaking early sexual feelings for spiritual calling, leading to inner conflict with natural desires. **In simple terms:** Teen angst mixes loneliness, desire, and spiritual confusion. Key Takeaway Recognize and separate emotional from spiritual urges. Themes adolescence melancholy spirituality Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - late night introspection - confessional writing - spiritual crisis Key Concepts identity desire religion Questions to Reflect On - What guides you to discern true spiritual callings? - How can one soothe restless melancholy? A Different Perspective Confusing desire with spirituality can cause distress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Calling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calling/) [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Embrace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embrace/) [Every girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-girl/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Falls Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falls-melancholy-4690969/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Manifestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manifestation/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Melancholy Tormented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy-tormented-4690968/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [Reign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reign/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Seducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seducing/) [Seek Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-solitude-746836/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Solitude Weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude-weep-4690967/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vague/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voice of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-of-god/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [They mistake the first manifestations of a developing sexual nature for the voice of God calling them to Himself; and it is precisely when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/they-mistake-the-first-manifestations-of-a-developing-sexual-nature/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is convincing evidence that the search for solitude is not a luxury but a biological need. Just as humans posses a herding instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/there-is-convincing-evidence-that-the-search-for-solitude-is-not-a/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [“Seek silence in the midst of the tumult, seek solitude in the masses, light in the midst of darkness; find forgetfulness in injury, victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-molinos/seek-silence-in-the-midst-of-the-tumult-seek-solitude-in-the-masses/) [Michael Molinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-molinos/) > [“Too tired for company, You seek a solitude You are too tired to fill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/too-tired-for-company-you-seek-a-solitude-you-are-too-tired-to-fill/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [“The Christian solitary does not seek solitude merely as an atmosphere or as a setting for a special and exalted spirituality. Not doesn't he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-christian-solitary-does-not-seek-solitude-merely-as-an-atmosphere/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Yes, I do seek solitude, but I am never lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/yes-i-do-seek-solitude-but-i-am-never-lonely/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [There are times when you seek your solitude, and your solitude just wants to be left alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/there-are-times-when-you-seek-your-solitude-and-your-solitude-just/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“We are familiar with people who seek out solitude: penitents, failures, saints, or prophets. They retreat to deserts, preferably, where they live on locusts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-s-skind/we-are-familiar-with-people-who-seek-out-solitude-penitents-failures/) [Patrick Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-s-skind/) > [Ah! I need solitude. I have come forth to this hill at sunset to see the forms of the mountains in the horizon -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/ah-i-need-solitude-i-have-come-forth-to-this-hill-at-sunset-to-see/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us; nor do we need wings to go in search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/however-softly-we-speak-god-is-so-close-to-us-that-he-can-hear-us-nor/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [“Nourish yourself with grand and austere ideas of beauty . Seek solitude. If your life is well ordered your health will not suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/nourish-yourself-with-grand-and-austere-ideas-of-beauty-seek-solitude/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [To seek solitude like a wild animal. That is my only ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/to-seek-solitude-like-a-wild-animal-that-is-my-only-ambition/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Wherever you may seek solitude, men will ferret you out and compel you to belong to their desperate company of oddfellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wherever-you-may-seek-solitude-men-will-ferret-you-out-and-compel-you/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I know why you seek solitude. You suffer; I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-know-why-you-seek-solitude-you-suffer-i-see-it-day-by-day-you-sure/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [Isolation, but it's a good vulnerability. Humbling. I actually seek out solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-dooling/isolation-but-it-s-a-good-vulnerability-humbling-i-actually-seek-out/) [Brendan Dooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-dooling/) ## More by Denis Diderot > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [One declaims endlessly against the passions; one imputes all of man's suffering to them. One forgets that they are also the source of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-declaims-endlessly-against-the-passions-one-imputes-all-of-man-s/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Time, matter, space - all, it may be, are no more than a point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/time-matter-space-all-it-may-be-are-no-more-than-a-point/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/we-are-far-more-liable-to-catch-the-vices-than-the-virtues-of-our/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [One composition is meagre, though it has many figures; another is rich, though it has few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-composition-is-meagre-though-it-has-many-figures-another-is-rich/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I have only a small flickering light to guide me in the darkness of a thick forest. Up comes a theologian and blows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/i-have-only-a-small-flickering-light-to-guide-me-in-the-darkness-of-a/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [The world is the house of the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-world-is-the-house-of-the-strong/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“One swallows the lie that flatters, but sips the bitter truth drop by drop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-swallows-the-lie-that-flatters-but-sips-the-bitter-truth-drop-by/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-less-harm-to-be-suffered-in-being-mad-among-madmen-than-in/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Integrity is the evidence of all civil virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/integrity-is-the-evidence-of-all-civil-virtues/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/watch-out-for-the-fellow-who-talks-about-putting-things-in-order/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“Nie wiem, co to zasady, chyba że tak nazywamy prawidła, które przypisuje się innym, a nie sobie. Myślę tak, a nie umiałbym się powstrzymać…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/nie-wiem-co-to-zasady-chyba-e-tak-nazywamy-prawid-a-kt-re-przypisuje/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-no-good-father-who-would-want-to-resemble-our-heavenly-father/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Isn't it better to have men being ungrateful than to miss a chance to do good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/isn-t-it-better-to-have-men-being-ungrateful-than-to-miss-a-chance-to/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [A nation which thinks that it is belief in God and not good law which makes people honest does not seem to me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/a-nation-which-thinks-that-it-is-belief-in-god-and-not-good-law-which/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) [Explore all 210 Denis Diderot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There comes a moment during which almost every girl or boy falls into melancholy; they are tormented by a vague inquietude which rests on everything and finds nothing to calm it. They seek solitude; they weep; the silence to be found in cloister attracts them: the image of peace that seems to reign in religious houses seduces them. 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