--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The present offers itself to our touch…" description: "\"The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg" --- # The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant… ![“The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg) > “The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moments are fleeting; they slip away if not fully experienced. **In simple terms:** Time passes quickly. Key Takeaway Savor each instant. Themes time impermanence mindfulness Mood contemplative calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily routines - travel - creative work Key Concepts philosophy psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What moment are you missing now? - How can you become more present? A Different Perspective We often ignore the present. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Every instant of time... is a pinprick of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/every-instant-of-time-is-a-pinprick-of-eternity/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [There are things that I would say that you could call an instant of time; or better, a now. As we live we seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barbour/there-are-things-that-i-would-say-that-you-could-call-an-instant-of/) [Julian Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barbour/) > [“The instant is not in time -- time is in the instant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barbour/the-instant-is-not-in-time-time-is-in-the-instant/) [John Barbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barbour/) > [Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/photography-takes-an-instant-out-of-time-altering-life-by-holding-it/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Oh seize the instant time; you never will With water once passed by impel the mill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/oh-seize-the-instant-time-you-never-will-with-water-once-passed-by/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [Perhaps this very instant is your time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/perhaps-this-very-instant-is-your-time/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [“Nothing is predetermined, it is determined, or was determined, or will be determined. No matter, it all happened at once, in less than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-halperin/nothing-is-predetermined-it-is-determined-or-was-determined-or-will/) [Mark Halperin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-halperin/) > [Nothing really matters except what you do now in this instant of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-caddy/nothing-really-matters-except-what-you-do-now-in-this-instant-of-time/) [Eileen Caddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-caddy/) > [“Until now, I've been writing about "now" as if it were literally an instant of time, but of course human faculties are not infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/until-now-i-ve-been-writing-about-now-as-if-it-were-literally-an/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [A fragrance is a veritable story, told and explained in scent, in notes, in impressions. It's a score based on the emotions of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/a-fragrance-is-a-veritable-story-told-and-explained-in-scent-in-notes/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [Demosthenes told Phocion, "The Athenians will kill you some day when they once are in a rage." "And you," said he, "if they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/demosthenes-told-phocion-the-athenians-will-kill-you-some-day-when/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [While love is common, true love is rare, and I believe that few people are fortunate enough to experience it. The roads of regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-buss/while-love-is-common-true-love-is-rare-and-i-believe-that-few-people/) [David Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-buss/) > [The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-observation-of-human-blindness-and-weakness-is-the-result-of-all/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode - from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-gibson/even-though-fixed-in-time-a-photograph-evokes-as-much-feeling-as-that/) [Ralph Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-gibson/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Elude quotes > [Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode - from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-gibson/even-though-fixed-in-time-a-photograph-evokes-as-much-feeling-as-that/) [Ralph Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-gibson/) > [The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy, and meets us at every turn, in spite of our endeavours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-observation-of-human-blindness-and-weakness-is-the-result-of-all/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [While love is common, true love is rare, and I believe that few people are fortunate enough to experience it. The roads of regular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-buss/while-love-is-common-true-love-is-rare-and-i-believe-that-few-people/) [David Buss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-buss/) > [To understand oneself is the classic form of consolation; to elude oneself is the romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/to-understand-oneself-is-the-classic-form-of-consolation-to-elude/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [Basic Instincts It's the way mother birds build nests, and build them high enough to elude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/basic-instincts-it-s-the-way-mother-birds-build-nests-and-build-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many of you have already found out, and others will find out in the course of their lives, that truth eludes us if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-you-have-already-found-out-and-others-will-find-out-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we try to hold on to our partial glimpses of the divine, we cut it down to our own size and close our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-we-try-to-hold-on-to-our-partial-glimpses-of-the-divine-we-cut-it/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [It is rash to intrude upon the piety of others: both the depth and the grace of it elude the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/it-is-rash-to-intrude-upon-the-piety-of-others-both-the-depth-and-the/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [All that is best for us comes of itself into our hands-but if we strive to overtake it, it perpetually eludes us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/all-that-is-best-for-us-comes-of-itself-into-our-hands-but-if-we/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [The theoretical recognition of the split-space of enunciation may open the way to conceptualising an international culture, based not on the exoticism of multiculturalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homi-k-bhabha/the-theoretical-recognition-of-the-split-space-of-enunciation-may/) Homi K. Bhabha > [The fact that so many people choose to live in ways that narrow the community of fate to a very limited set of others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-levi/the-fact-that-so-many-people-choose-to-live-in-ways-that-narrow-the/) Margaret Levi > [Wisdom eludes me yet, but foolishness I captured long ago and to this day it is my constant companion, though many people consider me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/wisdom-eludes-me-yet-but-foolishness-i-captured-long-ago-and-to-this/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maclean/it-is-those-we-live-with-and-love-and-should-know-who-elude-us/) [Norman Maclean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maclean/) > [Thinking carries a moral imperative. The searcher for truth must be ready to obey truth without reservation or it will elude him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/thinking-carries-a-moral-imperative-the-searcher-for-truth-must-be/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [It has been wisely said, "that well may thy guardian angel suffer thee to lose thy locks, when thou darest wilfully to lay thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/it-has-been-wisely-said-that-well-may-thy-guardian-angel-suffer-thee/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) Browse all 144 Elude quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-for-only-an-instant-of-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Elude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-for-only-an-instant-of-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc6/plutarch-597_elude_the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-f_891629.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses.” — Plutarch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The present offers itself to our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-for-only-an-instant-of-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-present-offers-itself-to-our-touch-for-only-an-instant-of-time/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```