Causation Quote by Marcel Proust
““The laborious process of causation which sooner or later will bring about every possible effect, including, consequently, those which one believed to be least possible, naturally slow at times, is rendered slower still by our desire (which in seeking to accelerate only obstructs it), by our very existence, and comes to fruition only when we have ceased to desire, and sometimes ceased to live.””
About This Quote
Source Book: In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust, 1913-1927
Desire and existence hinder the natural, slow unfolding of cause and effect, which only resolves when desire ceases.
In simple terms: Wanting speeds up nothing; letting go lets things happen.
Key Takeaway
Release desire to allow natural outcomes.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
patience
Mood
reflective
contemplative
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative work
- scientific research
- personal growth
- decision making
Key Concepts
determinism
free will
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does letting go change your approach to goals?
- When is desire beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Desire can also motivate progress; balance is needed.
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
