--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a moment the feeling crept over me…" description: "\"For a moment the feeling crept over me that my work, my vision, is going to destroy me, and for a fleeting moment I let myself take a long, hard look a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/werner-herzog-964_breathing_for-a-moment-the-feeling-crept-over-me-t_1206915.jpg" --- # For a moment the feeling crept over me that my work, my… ![“For a moment the feeling crept over me that my work, my vision, is going to destroy me, and for a fleeting moment I let myself take a long, hard look at myself, something I would not otherwise do--out of instinct, on principle, out of self-preservation--look at myself with objective curiosity to…” quote by Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/werner-herzog-964_breathing_for-a-moment-the-feeling-crept-over-me-t_1206915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/werner-herzog-964_breathing_for-a-moment-the-feeling-crept-over-me-t_1206915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/werner-herzog-964_breathing_for-a-moment-the-feeling-crept-over-me-t_1206915.jpg) > “For a moment the feeling crept over me that my work, my vision, is going to destroy me, and for a fleeting moment I let myself take a long, hard look at myself, something I would not otherwise do--out of instinct, on principle, out of self-preservation--look at myself with objective curiosity to see whether my vision has not destroyed me already. I found it comforting to note that I was still breathing.” [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He warns that a powerful vision can become self‑destructive, urging honest self‑examination to stay grounded. **In simple terms:** A big vision can threaten you; check yourself. Key Takeaway Pause to assess your path. Themes self‑awareness risk vision Mood introspective cautious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative projects - personal crises Key Concepts existential reflection psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your vision affect your wellbeing? - What safeguards can you set? A Different Perspective Self‑examination may not reveal hidden dangers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Crept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-crept-3641899/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Fleeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeting/) [Fleeting Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fleeting-moment-565741/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Moment Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-feeling-309207/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Vision Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision-going-266744/) ## Related quotes > [“A cold feeling crept over me, as if there actually was a right or wrong answer to the question. In English class, there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia-and-margaret-stohl/a-cold-feeling-crept-over-me-as-if-there-actually-was-a-right-or/) [Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia-and-margaret-stohl/) > [From about 5 years old on, I was very contemplative and started to become constantly filled with nostalgia for the present moment and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ebert/from-about-5-years-old-on-i-was-very-contemplative-and-started-to/) [Alex Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ebert/) > [The object of art is to make eternal the desperately fleeting moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-object-of-art-is-to-make-eternal-the-desperately-fleeting-moment/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [And for just a fleeting moment, a tiny wisp of time that hung in the air like fireflies in summer skies, she wondered if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-for-just-a-fleeting-moment-a-tiny-wisp-of-time-that-hung-in-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Where we hope to land (and where we do land, though only for a fleeting moment, enough for tired wings to catch the wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/where-we-hope-to-land-and-where-we-do-land-though-only-for-a-fleeting/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [You have no idea How much you do for mankind When you love God unconditionally Even for a fleeting moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/you-have-no-idea-how-much-you-do-for-mankind-when-you-love-god/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [When you know that something is dying inside you, you learn not to put much trust in the random vitalities of the fleeting moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/when-you-know-that-something-is-dying-inside-you-you-learn-not-to-put/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [My friend, let's not think of tomorrow, but let's enjoy this fleeting moment of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/my-friend-let-s-not-think-of-tomorrow-but-let-s-enjoy-this-fleeting/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“The fleeting moment became Whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-marinello-sweeney/the-fleeting-moment-became-whole/) [Gina Marinello-Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-marinello-sweeney/) > [Coffee is a fleeting moment and a fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-roden/coffee-is-a-fleeting-moment-and-a-fragrance/) [Claudia Roden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-roden/) > [No one who has lived even for a fleeting moment for something other than life in its conventional sense and has experienced the exaltation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/no-one-who-has-lived-even-for-a-fleeting-moment-for-something-other/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [Temptation turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/temptation-turns-you-it-makes-you-into-something-you-never-dreamed-it-2/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [There's a war on. We don't know how anything's going to end. We just have to grasp each fleeting moment of joy as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamunde-pilcher/there-s-a-war-on-we-don-t-know-how-anything-s-going-to-end-we-just/) [Rosamunde Pilcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamunde-pilcher/) > [There is nothing wrong with dedication and goals, but if you focus on yourself, all the lights fade away and you become a fleeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-maravich/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-dedication-and-goals-but-if-you-focus-on/) [Pete Maravich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-maravich/) > [“But always too soon, right after a fleeting moment of hope, the floor opens up and I sink to the bottom again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-taylor/but-always-too-soon-right-after-a-fleeting-moment-of-hope-the-floor/) [Natalie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-taylor/) ## More by Werner Herzog > [If your project has real substance, ultimately the money will follow you like a common cur in the street with its tail between its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-your-project-has-real-substance-ultimately-the-money-will-follow/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Every man should pull a boat over a mountain once in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/every-man-should-pull-a-boat-over-a-mountain-once-in-his-life/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I know whenever it comes to be really dysfunctional and vile and base and hostile on screen, I'm good at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-know-whenever-it-comes-to-be-really-dysfunctional-and-vile-and-base/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If you want to propose marriage to your girlfriend and you live in England and she is in Sicily, do the decent thing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-you-want-to-propose-marriage-to-your-girlfriend-and-you-live-in/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I'm a very circumspect and prudent person, and I eliminate danger as far as it can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-m-a-very-circumspect-and-prudent-person-and-i-eliminate-danger-as/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [It is not only my dreams, my belief is that all these dreams are yours as well. The only distinction between me and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/it-is-not-only-my-dreams-my-belief-is-that-all-these-dreams-are-yours/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [My non-fiction films are pretty much fiction, or at least close... It's all "movies" for me. I never have searched for a subject. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/my-non-fiction-films-are-pretty-much-fiction-or-at-least-close-it-s/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [If an actor knows how to milk a cow, I always know it will not be difficult to be in business with him,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/if-an-actor-knows-how-to-milk-a-cow-i-always-know-it-will-not-be/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ِِِِِِِِِِArt house theaters are vanishing. They have almost disappeared completely, and that means there's a shift in what audiences want to see. And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/art-house-theaters-are-vanishing-they-have-almost-disappeared/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I always had a feeling, for example, that there should be something from Verdi's "Requiem" in the film. You hear it when you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-always-had-a-feeling-for-example-that-there-should-be-something/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Along with this rapid growth of forms of communication at our disposal - be it fax, phone, email, Internet or whatever - human solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/along-with-this-rapid-growth-of-forms-of-communication-at-our/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [ I had complete freedom. They \[Netflix\] knew roughly what I was doing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-had-complete-freedom-they-netflix-knew-roughly-what-i-was-doing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [For example, the face of Nicole Kidman in Queen of the Desert and she is the most beautiful goddess on screen that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/for-example-the-face-of-nicole-kidman-in-queen-of-the-desert-and-she/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [I have always postulated that we have to find a new way to deal with reality. It's not so much facts that interest me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/i-have-always-postulated-that-we-have-to-find-a-new-way-to-deal-with/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) [Explore all 318 Werner Herzog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a moment the feeling crept over me that my work, my vision, is going to destroy me, and for a fleeting moment I let myself take a long, hard look at myself, something I would not otherwise do--out of instinct, on principle, out of self-preservation--look at myself with objective curiosity to see whether my vision has not destroyed me already. 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