"Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires"

This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld speaks to the power of absence in our lives. He suggests that when we are far from something or someone, it can have a profound result on our feelings. For mediocre passions, such as short lived infatuations, absence can reduce them, allowing us to carry on and focus on more significant relationships. On the other hand, absence can likewise increase terrific enthusiasms, such as real love, as it gives us time to reflect and value the other person. He compares this to the way wind can extinguish candles, however fan the flames of a fire. This metaphor suggests that lack can be an effective tool to assist us concentrate on what is genuinely crucial in our lives.