Dream Quote by Gaston Bachelard
““Contemplating a flame perpetuates a primordial reverie. It separates us from the world and enlarges our world as dreamers. In itself the flame is a major presence, but being close to it makes us dream of far away, too far away. The flame is there, feeble and tiny, struggling to stay in existence, and the dreamer goes on to dream of elsewhere, losing his own being by dreaming on a grand, on a too grand scale by dreaming of the world.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Poetics of Space, 1958
Dreams expand our perception, but the fragile flame of imagination can lead to losing oneself in grand visions
In simple terms: Imagination can both enlarge and overwhelm
Key Takeaway
Balance dreaming with grounded presence
Themes
imagination
dreams
self-awareness
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative work
- philosophical
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
phenomenology
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits should you set for your dreams?
- How can you stay grounded while dreaming?
A Different Perspective
Risk of losing self in over-idealization
