Blink of an eye Quote by Umberto Eco
““...I am not I who thinks,but I am the Void, or extension, that thinks me. And so this composite is an accident, in which Void and extension linger for the blink of an eye, to be able afterwards to return to thinking otherwise. In this great Void of the Void, the one thing that truly is, is the history of this evolution in numberless transitory compositions...Compositions of what? Of the one great Nothingness, which is the substance of the whole. Substance governed by a majestic necessity, which leads it to create and destroy worlds, to weave our pale lives. I must accept this, succeed in loving this Necessity, return to it, and bow to its future will, for this is the condition of Happiness. Only by accepting its law will I find my freedom. To flow back into It will be Salvation, fleeing from passions into the sole passion, the Intellectual Love of God. If I truly succeeded in understanding this, I would be the one man who has found the True Philosophy, and I would know everything about the God that is hidden. But who would have the heart to go about the world and proclaim such a philosophy? This is the secret I will carry with me to my grave, in the Antipodes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Name of the Rose, 1980
The self is a fleeting construct within a vast, indifferent void; embracing this leads to freedom and love of the ultimate.
In simple terms: We are temporary thoughts in a larger emptiness; accepting this brings peace.
Key Takeaway
Accept impermanence to find true freedom.
Themes
philosophy
existentialism
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- contemplating existence
- seeking meaning
- practicing detachment
- studying metaphysics
Key Concepts
void
necessity
intellectual love
transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “void” mean for daily life?
- How can one love necessity?
A Different Perspective
Complex language may obscure practical application.
