Artist Quote by Walter Pater
“To burn always with this hard, gemlike flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life. ... While all melts under our feet, we may well grasp at any exquisite passion, or any contribution to knowledge that seems by a lifted horizon to set the spirit free for a moment, or any stirring of the senses, strange dyes, strange colours, and curious odours, or work of the artist's hands, or the face of one's friend.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Marius the Epicurean by Walter Pater, 1885
Passionate, intense experiences—art, friendship, knowledge—offer fleeting freedom from ordinary life.
In simple terms: Intense passions give brief escapes from routine.
Key Takeaway
Seek and cherish intense, meaningful moments.
Themes
art
passion
existence
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative work
- travel
- deep conversations
Key Concepts
aesthetic experience
ephemeral joy
Questions to Reflect On
- Are fleeting passions enough for a fulfilling life?
- How can we balance intensity with stability?
