--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ere long, however, the daemon was…" description: "\"“Ere long, however, the daemon was wrestling with him once more; he was seized by that “terrible spirit of unrest” which drove him “like the deluge, to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/stefan-zweig-811_day-life_ere-long-however-the-daemon-was-wrestlin_2128775.jpg" --- # Ere long, however, the daemon was wrestling with him once… ![“Ere long, however, the daemon was wrestling with him once more; he was seized by that “terrible spirit of unrest” which drove him “like the deluge, to the mountain peaks”. Shadows of gloom and discontent crept into his letters. He began to complain of his “dependent position”, and the forces at…” quote by Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/stefan-zweig-811_day-life_ere-long-however-the-daemon-was-wrestlin_2128775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/stefan-zweig-811_day-life_ere-long-however-the-daemon-was-wrestlin_2128775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/stefan-zweig-811_day-life_ere-long-however-the-daemon-was-wrestlin_2128775.jpg) > ““Ere long, however, the daemon was wrestling with him once more; he was seized by that “terrible spirit of unrest” which drove him “like the deluge, to the mountain peaks”. Shadows of gloom and discontent crept into his letters. He began to complain of his “dependent position”, and the forces at work within him soon became obvious. He could not endure regular occupation, could not bear to participate in the daily round of ordinary people. No existence other than that of a poet was acceptable. In this first crisis he probably failed to understand that the trouble sprang from the daemonism within him, from the jealous exclusiveness of the spirit that possessed him, making mundane relationships impossible. He still rationalised the immanent inflammability of his impulses by discovering objective causes for them. He spoke of his pupil’s stubbornness, of defects in the lad’s character which he, as tutor, was impotent to remedy. Hölderlin’s incapacity to meet the demands of everyday life was in this matter all too plain. The boy of nine had a stronger will than the man of twenty-five. The tutor resigned his post. Charlotte von Kalb, who was anything but obtuse, grasped the underlying truth. Wishing to console Johann Christian Friedrich’s mother, she wrote to the latter: “His spirit cannot stoop to these petty labours … or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he takes them too much to heart.”” [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet’s inner turmoil, described as a restless daemon, prevents him from engaging in ordinary life, leading to conflict between artistic passion and everyday duties. **In simple terms:** A restless inner spirit blocks normal life for a poet. Key Takeaway Balance artistic drive with daily responsibilities. Themes creativity conflict identity Mood melancholic introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - personal relationships - mental health Key Concepts daemonism artistic temperament Questions to Reflect On - How can one channel inner unrest productively? - Is it possible to reconcile artistic passion with normal life? A Different Perspective The daemon may also fuel profound art, making sacrifice complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everyday life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-life/) ## Related quotes > [“God knows who we became when we masturbated. It was like our desire was a spirit that possessed us and took over.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/god-knows-who-we-became-when-we-masturbated-it-was-like-our-desire/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [You feel the spirit move you. 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He began to complain of his “dependent position”, and the forces at work within him soon became obvious. He could not endure regular occupation, could not bear to participate in the daily round of ordinary people. No existence other than that of a poet was acceptable. In this first crisis he probably failed to understand that the trouble sprang from the daemonism within him, from the jealous exclusiveness of the spirit that possessed him, making mundane relationships impossible. He still rationalised the immanent inflammability of his impulses by discovering objective causes for them. He spoke of his pupil’s stubbornness, of defects in the lad’s character which he, as tutor, was impotent to remedy. Hölderlin’s incapacity to meet the demands of everyday life was in this matter all too plain. The boy of nine had a stronger will than the man of twenty-five. The tutor resigned his post. Charlotte von Kalb, who was anything but obtuse, grasped the underlying truth. 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