--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had the feeling of slipping down a…" description: "\"I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless pit. It had nothing to do with Breuer and the people. It had nothing to do with Pat even. It was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/erich-maria-remarque-568_desire_i-had-the-feeling-of-slipping-down-a-smo_730829.jpg" --- # I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless… ![“I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless pit. It had nothing to do with Breuer and the people. It had nothing to do with Pat even. It was the melancholy secret that reality can arouse desires but never satisfy them; that love begins with a human being but does not end in him; and…” quote by Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/erich-maria-remarque-568_desire_i-had-the-feeling-of-slipping-down-a-smo_730829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/erich-maria-remarque-568_desire_i-had-the-feeling-of-slipping-down-a-smo_730829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ec/erich-maria-remarque-568_desire_i-had-the-feeling-of-slipping-down-a-smo_730829.jpg) > “I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless pit. It had nothing to do with Breuer and the people. It had nothing to do with Pat even. It was the melancholy secret that reality can arouse desires but never satisfy them; that love begins with a human being but does not end in him; and that everything can be there: a human being, love, happiness, life — and that yet in some terrible way it is always too little, and grows ever less the more it seems.” [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses existential melancholy, noting that reality provokes endless desire without fulfillment, and love and happiness are perpetually insufficient. **In simple terms:** Reality creates endless longing that never fully satisfies. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and seek meaning beyond desire. Themes existentialism melancholy desire love human condition Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical existential When to use this quote - war trauma - personal loss - philosophical reflection Key Concepts nihilism longing unattainable fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What desires feel unfulfillable? - How can we find peace amid perpetual lack? A Different Perspective The view may overlook moments of contentment and resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Slipping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-slipping-5725295/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Happiness life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness-life/) [Human love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-love/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Life happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-happiness/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Pat Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pat-melancholy-5725294/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pits/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Slipping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slipping/) [Smooth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smooth/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/satisfaction-of-one-s-curiosity-is-one-of-the-greatest-sources-of/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [You beg for happiness in life, but security is more important to you, even if it costs you your spine or your life. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/you-beg-for-happiness-in-life-but-security-is-more-important-to-you/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [I allow myself to have my feelings of disappointment and discouragement, but never to sit and wallow in them. I meditate on positive energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-matheson/i-allow-myself-to-have-my-feelings-of-disappointment-and/) [Tim Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-matheson/) > [I no longer desire happiness: life is nobler than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/i-no-longer-desire-happiness-life-is-nobler-than-that/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-happiness-of-life-is-made-up-of-minute-fractions/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [When our founding fathers put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, those 56 brave people, most of whom by the way were clergymen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/when-our-founding-fathers-put-their-signatures-on-the-declaration-of/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) > [There is a condition or circumstance that has a greater bearing upon the happiness of life than any other. 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The justest definition that was ever given of it was "a tranquil acquiescence under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/there-is-no-such-thing-as-real-happiness-in-life-the-justest/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [I love acting, of course, but being with my husband and my children always brought me the greatest joy and happiness in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-love-acting-of-course-but-being-with-my-husband-and-my-children/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/friendship-is-the-greatest-of-worldly-goods-certainly-to-me-it-is-the-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Looking back, the way I see it, there was something slightly deluded about my belief - what that meant to me - but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-coel/looking-back-the-way-i-see-it-there-was-something-slightly-deluded/) [Michaela Coel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-coel/) > [As long as I breathe I hope. As long as I breathe I shall fight for the future, that radiant future, in which man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/as-long-as-i-breathe-i-hope-as-long-as-i-breathe-i-shall-fight-for/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [You can have small moments of happiness in life. You certainly can’t expect years and years of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/you-can-have-small-moments-of-happiness-in-life-you-certainly-can-t/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) ## More by Erich Maria Remarque > [There was only the broad square with the scattered dim moons of the street lamps and with the monumental stone arch which receded into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/there-was-only-the-broad-square-with-the-scattered-dim-moons-of-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/the-idea-of-authority-which-they-represented-was-associated-in-our/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It was a long time since I had been in a theatre. And I would not have come now had Pat not wanted it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-was-a-long-time-since-i-had-been-in-a-theatre-and-i-would-not-have/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Besides,” continued Gottfried, “you’re coming now to the time when the difference between a bourgeois and a cavalier begins to show. A bourgeois always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/besides-continued-gottfried-you-re-coming-now-to-the-time-when-the/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“They are wearing new uniforms and greatcoats; their boots are water-tight and fit well; their rifles are good and their pouches full of ammunition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/they-are-wearing-new-uniforms-and-greatcoats-their-boots-are-water/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“Shortly after the war Valentin had come into a little money, and had been drinking it ever since. He considered it his duty to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/shortly-after-the-war-valentin-had-come-into-a-little-money-and-had/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“A man has to have something he can put faith in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/a-man-has-to-have-something-he-can-put-faith-in/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It is very queer that the unhappiness of the world is so often brought on by small men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/it-is-very-queer-that-the-unhappiness-of-the-world-is-so-often/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I, too, am going to go away soon,' she says, 'I am weary and weary of my weariness. Everything is beginning to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-too-am-going-to-go-away-soon-she-says-i-am-weary-and-weary-of-my/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“One is never too young. Only always too old.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/one-is-never-too-young-only-always-too-old/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [You take it from me, we are losing the war because we can salute too well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/you-take-it-from-me-we-are-losing-the-war-because-we-can-salute-too/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [“It keeps them going, staves off the evil day when they will be alone. 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They are big and clumsy, the breeches are tucked into them, and standing up one looks well-built and powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/i-glance-at-my-boots-they-are-big-and-clumsy-the-breeches-are-tucked/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) [Explore all 360 Erich Maria Remarque quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. 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He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had the feeling of slipping down a smooth bottomless pit. It had nothing to do with Breuer and the people. It had nothing to do with Pat even. 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