What is life? A madness. What is life? An illusion, a shadow, a story. And the greatest good is little enough: for all life is a dream, and dreams themselves are only dreams.
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
And yet, and yet, in these our ghostly lives, Half night, half day, half sleeping, half awake, How if our waking life, like that of sleep, Be all a dream in that eternal life To which we wake not till we sleep in death
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote contemplates the nature of life and reality, suggesting that our waking life may be as illusory as dreams.
In this quote, Calderon de La Barca reflects on the duality of human existence, where we experience life as a blend of awareness and unconsciousness. He proposes that just as our dreams may not be grounded in reality, our waking experiences could also be an illusion, hinting at a deeper, eternal truth that becomes apparent only in death. This philosophical musing challenges the boundaries between life and dreams, urging us to consider the depth and meaning of our own existence.
Themes
LifeDreamRealityPhilosophyExistenceDeath
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about the meaning of life, this quote could illustrate how our perceptions may not reflect ultimate truths.
More from Pedro Calderon De La Barca
All quotes →But whether it be dream or truth, to do well is what matters. If it be truth, for truth's sake. If not, then to gain friends for the time when we awaken.
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Tis not where we lie but whence we fell; the loss of Heaven's the greatest pain in Hell.
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Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
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In this treacherous world Nothing is the truth nor a lie. Everything depends on the color Of the crystal through which one sees it
Pedro Calderon De La BarcaRead
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