#Transience

The Rare Luck of Brief True Closeness

At its heart, Hemingway’s line defines luck not as wealth or permanence, but as the discovery of a person who briefly makes the world fall away. To hold someone and close your eyes suggests more than romance; it evokes t...

Life’s Fragile Substance, Dreamlike and Brief

Shakespeare’s “We are such stuff as dreams are made on” comes from The Tempest (c. 1611), where Prospero reflects on how quickly spectacles—and lives—vanish.

Each Day is a Small Life - Schopenhauer

This quote emphasizes that each day is a microcosm of our entire life, filled with its own challenges, joys, and experiences. By living each day fully, we essentially live a series of mini-lives within our one lifetime.

Prosperous Times Disperse Like Fragrant Dust - Du Mu

This quote highlights the fleeting nature of prosperous or successful periods in life. Just like fragrant dust, these times are enjoyable but ephemeral, and they will eventually disperse.

Life Is a Dream, and Dreams Are Merely Dreams - Calderón de la Barca

This quote prompts a philosophical reflection on the nature of reality and existence. It suggests that life, much like dreams, is ephemeral and perhaps illusory.

Every Day Is a Little Life

This quote highlights the idea that each day is a miniature version of life itself, valuable and to be cherished. By appreciating every single day, we can make the most out of our entire life.

Time Flies Like an Arrow; the Days and Months Pass Swiftly Like a Shuttle

This quote emphasizes the rapid passage of time, drawing a comparison to an arrow in flight and a shuttle moving back and forth quickly. Both similes highlight the fleeting nature of time.