Change Quote by Karen Blixen
““The real difference between God and human beings, he thought, was that God cannot stand continuance. No sooner has he created a season of a year, or a time of the day, than he wishes for something quite different, and sweeps it all away. No sooner was one a young man, and happy at that, than the nature of things would rush one into marriage, martyrdom or old age. And human beings cleave to the existing state of things. All their lives they are striving to hold the moment fast…Their art itself is nothing but the attempt to catch by all means the one particular moment, one light, the momentary beauty of one woman or one flower, and make it everlasting.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Out of Africa by Karen Blixen, 1937
Human beings cling to the present, trying to preserve fleeting moments, while divine forces constantly change everything.
In simple terms: People try to hold onto beautiful moments despite inevitable change.
Key Takeaway
Embrace impermanence and cherish moments now.
Themes
impermanence
beauty
human desire
divine change
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
philosophical
artistic
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- personal relationships
- memory preservation
- photography
- writing
Key Concepts
existentialism
aesthetics
temporal nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you preserve the essence of a fleeting experience?
- What does it mean to make a moment everlasting?
A Different Perspective
Even if we capture a moment, its meaning may shift over time.
