I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth, a nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present. In this limitless nation, this nation of wind, light, and peace, there is no other ruler besides the sea.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the idea of belonging to a vast, beautiful world governed by natural elements rather than human-made rules.
In this quote, Bernard Moitessier expresses his profound connection to the beauty and simplicity of nature, depicting a 'nation' that transcends physical borders and restrictions. The imagery of wind, light, and peace evokes a sense of freedom and tranquility, suggesting that true liberation lies in appreciating the present moment and recognizing the sea as the ultimate authority, symbolizing nature's vastness and power.
In practice
In a speech about conservation and the environment.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
Many people believe that our lives end not when we die but when the very last person who knew us dies. Memory is part of it, yes, but I think it's much more than memory.
Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination.
Rover did not know in the least where the moon's path led to, and at present he was much too frightened and excited to ask, and anyway he was beginning to get used to extraordinary things happening to him.
Cease being intimidated by the argument that a right action is impossible because it does not yield maximum profits, or that a wrong action is to be condoned because it pays.
And the worst possible thing we could know β worse than knowing of our descent from a mass of microorganisms β is that we are nobodies not somebodies, puppets not people.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.