Quote by Nikolai Gogol
But there is nothing enduring in the world, and therefore even joy in the second minute is already not as acute as in the first; in the third minute it becomes still weaker and finally merges unnoticeably with the usual condition of the soul, as a circle on the water, caused by the fall of a pebble, finally merges with the smooth surface.
Summary
This quote essentially highlights the ephemeral nature of joy or happiness. It suggests that the intensity of joy diminishes over time, with each passing minute. The quote draws an analogy between the fading joy and a circle formed by a pebble falling in water, gradually blending into the calm surface. The underlying message is that nothing in the world is everlasting, not even moments of joy, which eventually dissipate and return to the ordinary state of the soul.