Arms Quote by Thomas Mann
“There were profound reasons for his attachment to the sea: he loved it because as a hardworking artist he needed rest, needed to escape from the demanding complexity of phenomena and lie hidden on the bosom of the simple and tremendous; because of a forbidden longing deep within him that ran quite contrary to his life's task and was for that very reason seductive, a longing for the unarticulated and immeasurable, for eternity, for nothingness. To rest in the arms of perfection is the desire of any man intent upon creating excellence; and is not nothingness a form of perfection?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann, 1947
The sea offers the artist a refuge from complexity, a place for rest and a yearning for the infinite, suggesting that embracing nothingness can be a form of perfection.
In simple terms: The sea is a restful escape that hints at perfection through nothingness.
Key Takeaway
Seek quiet spaces that allow contemplation of the infinite.
Themes
art
rest
perfection
longing
nothingness
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
inspired
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative work
- personal reflection
- spiritual practice
- overcoming burnout
Key Concepts
existentialism
aesthetic philosophy
the sublime
Questions to Reflect On
- How does embracing emptiness influence artistic creation?
- Can rest be both a retreat and a catalyst for excellence?
A Different Perspective
The ideal of nothingness may be unattainable, leading to perpetual dissatisfaction.
