#Transience

Life’s Fragile Substance, Dreamlike and Brief

The metaphor gains weight when it meets the simple fact that time erodes everything. Shakespeare repeatedly returns to this pressure—his sonnets measure beauty against decay, while tragedies show how quickly power and plans collapse. In The Tempest, the line functions as a gentle memento mori: we are not built to last in the way we imagine. Yet the tone is not only bleak. If life is made of dream-stuff, then it is also made of moments: a reconciliation, a forgiveness, a flash of awe. What fades still matters, and the acknowledgment of fading can sharpen attention rather than numb it. [...]

Each Day Is a Small Life - Schopenhauer

It encourages the notion of 'seizing the day.' Since each day is akin to a small life, it suggests that individuals should live each day fully and meaningfully. [...]

Each Day is a Small Life - Schopenhauer

Each new day provides an opportunity to start afresh, make new choices, and improve aspects of our life. Viewing each day as a 'small life' can inspire a more proactive and positive approach to living. [...]

Prosperous Times Disperse Like Fragrant Dust - Du Mu

The flowing water represents the indifferent and continuous passage of time and nature. Regardless of human fortunes and misfortunes, time flows on unaffected, suggesting an acceptance of the natural cycle. [...]

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

The quote plays with the idea that what we perceive as tangible reality might be as insubstantial as our dreams, challenging our understanding of what is real. [...]

Every Day Is a Little Life

The quote suggests that every day brings new opportunities and possibilities. Just as a full life contains adventures and learning experiences, so does each individual day. [...]

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

Recognizing that time flies can serve as a motivation to act promptly and make the most of the present, encouraging people to seize opportunities and live life fully. [...]