Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.

Summary

This quote highlights how absence has a contrasting effect on different levels of passion. It suggests that when mediocre passions are not constantly attended to or given attention, they diminish in intensity or significance. On the other hand, great passions tend to be heightened when there is distance or separation, similar to how a gust of wind extinguishes small candles but intensifies a larger fire. In essence, absence has the power to reveal the true strength and depth of one's emotions.

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