To burn always with this hard gem-like flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life. Failure is to form habits; for habit is relative to a stereotyped world….
Not to discriminate every moment some passionate attitude in those about us, and in the brilliance of their gifts some tragic dividing of forces on their ways is, on this short day of frost and sun, to sleep before evening….
Art comes to you professing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those moments’ sake.
Walter Pater
(conclusion to The Renaissance, 1873)
tags: pater
