Creature Quote by Rainer Maria Rilke
““This is the creature there has never been. They never knew it, and yet, none the less, they loved the way it moved, its suppleness, its neck, its very gaze, mild and serene. Not there, because they loved it, it behaved as though it were. They always left some space. And in that clear unpeopled space they saved it lightly reared its head, with scarce a trace of not being there. They fed it, not with corn, but only with the possibility of being. And that was able to confer such strength, its brow put forth a horn. One horn. Whitely it stole up to a maid - to be within the silver mirror and in her.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Creature” from “Sonnets to Orpheus”, 1923
A unique, unseen being is loved for its graceful presence; its existence is sustained by possibility rather than material nourishment.
In simple terms: A rare being thrives on being imagined, not fed.
Key Takeaway
Value imagination and presence.
Themes
creativity
existence
beauty
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- artistic inspiration
- mental health
- creative writing
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
imagination
presence
potential
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imagination shape reality?
- What does it mean to nurture something unseen?
A Different Perspective
Relying on intangible support may be fragile in reality.
