Melancholy is at the bottom of everything, just as at the end of all rivers is the sea. Can it be otherwise in a world where nothing lasts, where all that we have loved or shall love must die? Is death, then, the secret of life? The gloom of an eternal mourning enwraps, more or less closely, every serious and thoughtful soul, as night enwraps the universe.

Summary

This quote suggests that melancholy is intrinsic to existence, as it is rooted in the transient nature of everything. The comparison to rivers flowing into the sea implies that sorrow is fundamental, much like death is an inevitable part of life. It questions whether death holds the key to understanding life's purpose. The reference to a perpetual mourning enveloping deep and reflective individuals parallels how darkness blankets the entire universe. Ultimately, the quote emphasizes the presence and pervasive nature of melancholy in a world marked by fleetingness and mortality.

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