How could drops of water know themselves to be a river? Yet the river flows on.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on self-awareness and the interconnectedness of existence.
Antoine De Saint-Exupery's quote invites us to ponder the nature of identity and consciousness. The metaphor of drops of water becoming part of a river suggests that individual elements may not fully comprehend their role or significance within a larger whole. This idea prompts reflection on how we perceive ourselves and our contributions to the world around us, emphasizing that while we might feel separate, we are part of a greater flow of life and experience.
In practice
In a speech about teamwork, one might use this quote to illustrate how each member contributes to a collective goal.
Grown-ups love figures... When you tell them you've made a new friend they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? " Instead they demand "How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? " Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.
Attitude is a paintbrush. It colors everything!
Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor; canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, thou fillest us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.
In those days, I didn't understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contadictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.
When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey.
When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed. Man is a knot, a web, a mesh into which relationships are tied. Only those relationships matter. The body is an old crock that nobody will miss. I have never known a man to think of himself when dying. Never.
The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more child-like will be our faith
When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God. In fact, it might mean you're right in the center of His will. The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering and loss.
Nobody can have the consolations of religion or philosophy unless he has first experienced their desolations.
A woman reading Playboy feels a little like a Jew reading a Nazi manual.
Humanity needs justice, peace and love and we can have this only by returning with our hearts towards God who is the source of all this.
I just know that there are plenty of people who are in terrible trouble and can't get out. And so I'm impatient with those who think that it's easy for people to get out of trouble.
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