Does anyone understand this quote?

Question

"For my own part, I have never had a thought which I could not set down
in words with even more distinctness than that with which I conceived it.
There is, however, a class of fancies of exquisite delicacy which are not
thoughts, and to which as yet I have found it absolutely impossible to
adapt to language. These fancies arise in the soul, alas how rarely.
Only at epochs of most intense tranquillity, when the bodily and mental
health are in perfection. And at those weird points of time, where the
confines of the waking world blend with the world of dreams. And so I
captured this fancy, where all that we see, or seem, is but a dream within
a dream."

Answer 1

Oh dear...I think I understand what the author is trying to say, but how do I convey it? A breathtaking moment...not really.

Have you ever had a moment in time which was so nearly perfect that you cannot describe it? There were no words, only the experience. Like peace and joy come to life and infused into time for just an instant.

From my own experience: Sixteen years ago, driving along the Skeena River in British Columbia going to Prince Rupert. The sun was just setting and there was a mist rising off the river. It was heavenly. I cannot describe the peace of the moment, but I have gone back to it when I needed a "perfect" moment in a time of chaos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeena_River

Here's the spot in broad daylight. Beautiful, but nothing like that moment. Thanks for the reminder. I need it this week. ; )

Hope it was some help to you.

Answer 2

The author is saying that most experiences or thoughts can be explained more fully on paper, however the experiences that he or she experiences whilst meditating or praying intensely are, so far as he or she knows, impossible to relate via paper. The feelings that are reached during this time are so difficult to explain that the author believes them to be "fancies of the soul" rather than thoughts, and therefore difficult to translate into real thoughts. At that moment, it seems to the author that everything, the world, him or herself is nothing but a "dream within a dream" which is to say, it doesn't really exist. That's my take on it anyway.

Answer 3

He did not constantly quote Scripture. He did quote it (from the Septuagint - the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures), yet each and every each and every now and then he made trouble-free statements, or posed questions, or maybe though. Paul did state in a number of his letters that what he became writing became his opinion, as specifically issues, he had no training from Jesus. although, it rather is presumptuous for any individuals to communicate for God quickly. all of us interpret Scripture somewhat in yet differently. So, we've critiques - frequently rather stable ones, and in simple terms as frequently rather crappy ones (you will discover rather some them in R&S!). If I say some thing is actuality, and others disagree, that motives worry. If I say, it rather is what i've got faith, and right here is why, then you definitely've some thing rather worth questioning approximately.

Answer 4

Yes, but i have done 6 years of sufi-based meditation work.
There is a world that is not related to words. But i was
in my 40s before i realized this. If you want to understand this undertake buddhist meditation or start with yoga or martial arts. But this really describes what i would call a sufi experience.
Really cannot be put into words because it exists on a different plane.

Answer 5

This quote is the introduction in the first cut of Alan Parson s album, "Tales of Mystery and Imagination" based on stories by Edgard Alan Poe. In this first cut Orson Wells narrates the text of your Quote. Called "A dream within the dream"

Answer 6

A flowery way to say "you cannot describe any feeling to someone who has not shared the experience..." Try to find words of any kind to describe the pain of being burned, the pleasure of an orgasm, whatever...in a way that someone who has never experienced the feeling would understand. Try to describe the blue of sky to a blind person, the taste of honey to a person who has no sense of taste or smell...cannot be done, period.

Answer 7

Yeah.


The part... "is all that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream" is a part of Edgar Allan Poe's poem, A dream within a dream.

Answer 8

He or she sounds rather pretentious and full of themselves.

I think they're saying that they can write the pants off of anyone. But the one thing they can't seem to express are those moments of pure joy that you sometimes have.

Answer 9

He or she is obviously aware of his or her capabilities/abilities and has come across that which he or she can not, humbling him or her to submit to the fact that there are just some things that are beyond our capabilities (beyond 'where there is a will there is a way').... be it as it may.

Answer 10

Yes, it's saying he has to say in 100 words what he can say in 10.