Courage consists not in blindly overlooking danger, but in seeing it, and conquering it.
Jean PaulRead
Sorrows gather around great souls as storms do around mountains; but, like them, they break the storm and purify the air of the plain beneath them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great individuals experience hardships but emerge stronger, providing clarity and hope to others.
This quote suggests that individuals with great character or significant contributions often face challenges and sorrow, similar to how mountains attract storms. However, just as mountains withstand these storms and subsequently clear the air for those below, great souls also confront their difficulties and, through their resilience, they can inspire and bring relief to others around them.
Themes
SorrowGreat SoulsStormsResiliencePurification
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on overcoming adversity, this quote could highlight the impact of suffering on personal growth.
More from Jean Paul
All quotes βMan's feelings are always purest and most glowing in the hour of meeting and of farewell.
Jean PaulRead
A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes anothers.
Jean PaulRead
There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go.
Jean PaulRead
If self-knowledge is the road to virtue, so is virtue still more the road to self-knowledge.
Jean PaulRead
I would rather dwell in the dim fog of superstition than in air rarefied to nothing by the air-pump of unbelief-in which the panting breast expires, vainly and convulsively gasping for breath.
Jean PaulRead
Similar quotes
Years ago, when he was around fourteen, he'd been all hipped on the idea of going to India. He read books about people sitting on rocks, naked, in all kinds of weather, but mostly bad, naturally, and walking barefoot through hot coals and arriving at wisdom. I used to say that it sounded to me as though they were getting away from wisdom as fast as they could. I think he sort of looked down on me for that.
James A. BaldwinRead
No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge. The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather of his faith and his lovingness. If he is indeed wise he does not bid you enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.
Khalil GibranRead
To rush into explanations is always a sign of weakness.
Agatha ChristieRead
Charles had once remarked that holding onto a resentment was like eating rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.
Anne LamottRead
My dear brothers, never forget, when you hear the progress of enlightenment vaunted, that the devil's best trick is to persuade you that he doesn't exist!
Charles BaudelaireRead
We distinguish the excellent man from the common man by saying that the former is the one who makes great demands on himself, and the latter who makes no demands on himself.
Jose Ortega Y GassetRead