"Anything that endures over time sacrifices its ability to make an impression"

This quote by Robert Musil recommends that when something has been around for a long period of time, it loses its capability to make an impact. This could be analyzed in a couple of various methods. It might mean that when something has been around for a long time, it ends up being so familiar that it no longer has the power to surprise or impress us. It might likewise indicate that when something has actually been around for a long period of time, it ends up being out-of-date and no longer appropriate to the current times.

The quote might also be translated as a warning to those who produce something that they need to not expect it to last permanently. Even if something is popular and successful in the present, it might not have the exact same effect in the future. This could be due to altering tastes, technology, or other aspects.

Ultimately, this quote by Robert Musil works as a suggestion that absolutely nothing lasts permanently and that we should value the important things that we have while we have them.