Knowing that everything comes to an end is a gift of experience, a consolation gift for knowing that we ourselves are coming to an end. Before we get it we live in a continuous present, and imagine the future as more of that present. Happiness is endless happiness, innocent of its own sure passing. Pain is endless pain.
The quote reflects on the inevitability of endings and how this understanding is shaped by our experiences. It highlights the transition from living in a continuous present to recognizing the finite nature of life. In this awareness, there is a sense of consolation, even amidst the reality that all experiences, whether joyful or painful, will eventually conclude.
This insight allows us to appreciate our moments more deeply. Happiness, viewed as eternal during its existence, contrasts with the enduring nature of pain. Wolff suggests that acknowledging these aspects can transform our perception of life, steering us towards a more profound understanding of both joy and sorrow as transient experiences.
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