"He raises himself slightly; the face disperses. The surface of the water, as before, is dappled and the vision has returned. But Narcissus tells himself that to kiss it is impossible, he does not need to desire an image; a gesture to possess it, will tear it. He is alone. What to do? Contemplate.
Religious and grave, he now recovers his calm serenity: he remains - a symbol that grows - and brooding over the semblance of the World, vaguely feels the transient generations of humanity re-absorbed into him."

- André Gide (The Tractate Narcissus [The Theory of Symbols], 1891)

Picture: 1903 print of "Narcissus" by J. K. Le Blon.