"I must go deeper and even stronger into my treasure mine and stint nothing of time, toil, or torture"
About this Quote
The words convey a burning commitment to creative exploration, evoking the metaphor of a treasure mine as a symbol for one’s own mind or soul. The author’s use of “go deeper and even stronger” suggests more than casual self-examination or routine effort; it calls for a courageous descent into the richest, most concealed aspects of the inner life. There is a sense of restlessness, an acknowledgment that surface-level existence, or superficial creation, is insufficient. Merely skimming the top of the “treasure mine” would yield only what is easily accessible, perhaps the ideas or truths already known or unchallenging.
The promise to “stint nothing of time, toil, or torture” reflects a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of that deeper discovery. Not only does the word “time” imply endless patience, but “toil” demonstrates readiness for hard, persistent work. Most strikingly, “torture” acknowledges the real pain that can accompany honest self-reflection and demanding creative work. It is an admission that the act of mining one’s own depths is rarely comfortable; there can be anxiety in facing one’s limitations, doubts, and buried traumas, as well as the rigors of perfecting one’s craft. Yet, instead of shrinking from this arduous process, the speaker welcomes it, determined that no hardship or suffering will be too great a price for the treasures they seek.
Underlying this is a powerful sense of purpose: the treasures hidden within are of such value that no sacrifice is too great for their retrieval. The sentiment serves as a rallying cry against complacency, urging the artist or thinker to persist beyond the ordinary, to eschew the tempting ease of mediocrity, and to embrace whatever labor or pain true discovery and expression demand. It champions the relentless pursuit of one’s highest potential and the transformative power of creative struggle.
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