Take bread away from me, if you wish, take air away, but do not take from me your laughter.
Interpretation
Laughter is essential for happiness and connection, more so than material needs.
In this quote, Pablo Neruda emphasizes the profound importance of joy and laughter in life. He suggests that while physical necessities like food and air are vital for survival, the emotional sustenance provided by laughter and companionship is even more critical for a fulfilled life. This reflects the deep human need for connection, happiness, and the lightness that laughter brings to our existence.
In practice
Use this quote as a toast at a gathering to highlight the importance of joy in relationships.
Perhaps this war will pass like the others which divided us leaving us dead, killing us along with the killers but the shame of this time puts its burning fingers to our faces. Who will erase the ruthlessness hidden in innocent blood?
I want to see the thirst inside the syllables I want to touch the fire in the sound: I want to feel the darkness of the cry. I want words as rough as virgin rocks.β - Verb.
Only do not forget, if I wake up crying it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands.
And here am I, budding among the ruins with only sorrow to bite on, as if weeping were a seed and I the earth's only furrow.
Once more I am the silent one who came out of the distance wrapped in cold rain and bells: I owe to earth's pure death the will to sprout.
I learned about life from life itself, love I learned in a single kiss and could teach no one anything except that I have lived with something in common among men.
Then he gave her a kiss on the forehead that felt like a baptism and she wept like a baby.
Who, of men, can tell_x000D_ _x000D_ That flowers would bloom, or that green fruit would swell_x000D_ _x000D_ To melting pulp, that fish would have bright mail,_x000D_ _x000D_ The earth its dower of river, wood, and vale,_x000D_ _x000D_ The meadows runnels, runnels pebble-stones,_x000D_ _x000D_ The seed its harvest, or the lute its tones,_x000D_ _x000D_ Tones ravishment, or ravishment its sweet,_x000D_ _x000D_ If human souls did never kiss and greet?
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time. -Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.
During the night, while Bull and Lucy slept, Edward, with ever-open eyes, stared up at the constellations. He said their names, and then he said the names of the people who loved him. He started with Abilene, and then went on to Nellie and Lawrence and from there to Bull and Lucy, and then he ended again with Abilene: Abilene, Nellie, Lawrence, Bull, Lucy, Abilene. See? Edward told Pellegrina. I am not like the princess. I know about love.
A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.
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