conception of eternity

"It is quite remarkable that one gets a conception of eternity from two of the most appalling contrasts in life. If I think of that unhappy bookkeeper who lost his reason from despair at having involved his firm in bankruptcy by adding 7 and 6 to make 14; if I think of him day after day, oblivious to everything else, repeating to himself: 7 and 6 are 14, then I have an image of eternity. -If I imagine a voluptuous feminine beauty in a harem, reclining on a couch in all charm grace, without concern for anything in all the world,  then I have a symbol for eternity."  -S.K.

(this is an excerpt from Either/Or, please comment if anyone understands what it means)