Quote by Friedrich Hölderlin
What is all that men have done and thought over thousands of years, compared with one moment of love. But in all Nature, too, it is what is nearest to perfection, what is most divinely beautiful! There all stairs lead from the threshold of life. From there we come, to there we go.
Summary
This quote suggests that the accomplishments and intellectual pursuits of humanity throughout history pale in comparison to the profound experience of love. It emphasizes the significance of love, not only in human interactions but also in nature itself, as the closest thing to perfection and divine beauty. The quote also acknowledges that love is a fundamental part of life, from which we originate and to which we ultimately return.