We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity...a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant...A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life.
The quote emphasizes the fleeting nature of human life in comparison to eternity, suggesting that a life can seem insignificant when viewed in such a vast context. Just as a blink of an eye is a momentary event, our lives are brief. However, the focus shifts to the individual experiencing life, highlighting that while the length of life is trivial, the person living it possesses the potential to imbue their existence with significance.
This meaningful life is not bestowed upon us; it requires effort to cultivate. The idea that one can fill a short lifespan with rich experiences and profound meaning suggests that true fulfillment comes from how we live each moment. In this way, the quality of our lives can be remarkably substantial, even if the duration is limited.