Acquisition Quote by Sophocles
“When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the end their pride will not agree to let it go, but their acquisition is not good for them if it stays in their hands. In the same way an identical desire drives lovers to act and not to act.”
About This Quote
The quote likens the fleeting joy of seizing something solid, like ice, to the way desire can both motivate and imprison lovers, suggesting that clinging to possession can become detrimental.
In simple terms: Desire can both inspire and imprison.
Key Takeaway
Clinging to desire can be harmful.
Themes
desire
transience
pride
love
self‑control
Mood
reflective
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- first love
- yeking novelty
- holding onto a relationship
- experiencing loss
Key Concepts
impermanence
attachment
motivation
Practical Applications
- counseling on healthy attachment
- creative writing about longing
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to let go of something you cherish?
- How can desire both motivate and limit us?
![“No one suffers so much as he [the genius] with the people, and, therefore, for the people, with whom he lives. For, in a certain sense, it is certainly only "by suffering" that a man knows. If compassion is not itself clear, abstractly conceivable or visibly symbolic knowledge, it is, at any rate…” quote by Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bec/otto-weininger-11319_acquisition_no-one-suffers-so-much-as-he-the-genius_20597.jpg)
