Quote by Oscar Wilde
When I say that I am convinced of these things I speak with too much pride. Far off, like a perfect pearl, one can see the city of God. It is so wonderful that it seems as if a child could reach it in a summer's day. And so a child could. But with me and such as me it is different. One can realise a thing in a single moment, but one loses it in the long hours that follow with leaden feet. It is so difficult to keep 'heights that the soul is competent to gain.' We think in eternity, but we move slowly through time; and how slowly time goes with us who lie in prison I need not tell again, nor of the weariness and despair that creep back into one's cell, and into the cell of one's heart, with such strange insistence that one has, as it were, to garnish and sweep one's house for their coming, as for an unwelcome guest, or a bitter master, or a slave whose slave it is one's chance or choice to be.
Summary
This quote reflects the struggle of maintaining a hopeful mindset amidst difficult circumstances. The speaker admits that their conviction and faith in something greater than their current situation are often tarnished over time. Although one can easily understand and believe in the incredible city of God, they find it hard to maintain this belief in the mundane moments of life. The quote highlights the slow passage of time in confined spaces, such as a prison cell, where weariness and despair persistently creep in. It reveals the constant effort required to keep negativity at bay and preserve a sense of hope and aspiration.
By Oscar Wilde
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