Quote by Emile Durkheim

The wise man, knowing how to enjoy achieved results without having constantly to replace them with others, finds in them an attachment to life in the hour of difficulty. But the man who has always pinned all his hopes on the future and lived with his eyes fixed upon it, has nothing in the past as a comfort against the present's afflictions, for the past was nothing to him but a series of hastily experienced stages. What blinded him to himself was his expectation always to find further on the happiness he had so far missed. Now he is stopped in his tracks; from now on nothing remains behind or ahead of him to fix his gaze upon.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of finding contentment in the present and not solely relying on future accomplishments for happiness. The wise individual understands the value of their achieved results and can draw comfort and strength from them during difficult times. In contrast, someone who constantly waits for happiness in the future lacks a sense of fulfillment in the past and present. Their fixation on what lies ahead blinds them to appreciating their journey and leaves them feeling lost when there are no more future goals to focus on. This encourages the reader to embrace and find meaning in the present moment.