--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a Persian story which I was…" description: "\"“There is a Persian story which I was greatly taken with when I read it as a boy ⎯ I think I understood, even then, something of the underlying idea, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/rabindranath-tagore-383_children_there-is-a-persian-story-which-i-was-gre_1553908.png" --- # There is a Persian story which I was greatly taken with… ![“There is a Persian story which I was greatly taken with when I read it as a boy ⎯ I think I understood, even then, something of the underlying idea, though I was a mere child. To show the illusory character of time, a faquir put some magic water into a tub and asked the King to take a dip. The…” quote by Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/rabindranath-tagore-383_children_there-is-a-persian-story-which-i-was-gre_1553908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/rabindranath-tagore-383_children_there-is-a-persian-story-which-i-was-gre_1553908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/rabindranath-tagore-383_children_there-is-a-persian-story-which-i-was-gre_1553908.png) > ““There is a Persian story which I was greatly taken with when I read it as a boy ⎯ I think I understood, even then, something of the underlying idea, though I was a mere child. To show the illusory character of time, a faquir put some magic water into a tub and asked the King to take a dip. The King no sooner dipped his head in than he found himself in a strange country by the sea, where he spent a good long time going through a variety of happenings and doings. He married, had children, his wife and children died, he lost all his wealth, and as he writhed under his sufferings he suddenly found himself back in the room, surrounded by his courtiers. On his proceeding to revile the faquir for his misfortunes, they said: “But, Sire, you have only just dipped your head in, and raised it out of the water!" The whole of our life with its pleasures and pains is in the same way enclosed in one moment of time. However long or intense we may feel it to be while it lasts, as soon as we have finished our dip in the tub of the world, we shall find how like a slight, momentary dream the whole thing has been. . . .”” [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s events, both joy and suffering, are fleeting, like a brief immersion in water that returns you instantly to the present moment. **In simple terms:** Life is a short dream that ends as soon as it begins. Key Takeaway Recognize the transience of experiences. Themes impermanence perspective philosophy Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - grief - celebration - personal loss - joyful moments - career reflection Key Concepts Temporal illusion mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing impermanence affect your daily choices? - Can fleeting moments still hold lasting meaning? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex, lasting impacts of life events. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Better make sure you’re not in my way when I go down.” My eyebrow lifted as I dipped my head to his level. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-belfield/better-make-sure-you-re-not-in-my-way-when-i-go-down-my-eyebrow/) [J.A. Belfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-belfield/) > [“He dipped his head and kissed along my jaw. 'I promise, nothing about being inside you will disappoint me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-r-martin/he-dipped-his-head-and-kissed-along-my-jaw-i-promise-nothing-about/) [Kelley R. 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The King no sooner dipped his head in than he found himself in a strange country by the sea, where he spent a good long time going through a variety of happenings and doings. He married, had children, his wife and children died, he lost all his wealth, and as he writhed under his sufferings he suddenly found himself back in the room, surrounded by his courtiers. On his proceeding to revile the faquir for his misfortunes, they said: “But, Sire, you have only just dipped your head in, and raised it out of the water!\" The whole of our life with its pleasures and pains is in the same way enclosed in one moment of time. 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