A witty woman is a treasure; a witty beauty is a power.
George MeredithRead
Days, when the ball of our vision_x000D_ _x000D_ Had eagles that flew unabashed to sun;_x000D_ _x000D_ When the graps on the bow was decision,_x000D_ _x000D_ And arrow and hand and eye were one;_x000D_ _x000D_ When the Pleasures, like waves to a swimmer,_x000D_ _x000D_ Came heaving for rapture ahead! -_x000D_ _x000D_ Invoke them, they dwindle, they glimmer_x000D_ _x000D_ As lights over mounds of the dead.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on moments of clarity and joy in life, highlighting the perfect harmony between intention and action.
George Meredith's quote captures the essence of those rare moments in life when everything aligns perfectly, much like a skilled archer who has complete control and unity between their vision, intention, and execution. It expresses nostalgia for these peak experiences when joy is abundant, yet acknowledges that such moments can fade away, much like distant memories of the past, hinting at the impermanence of life’s pleasures.
In practice
This quote could be used in a speech about embracing life's fleeting moments during a graduation ceremony.
A witty woman is a treasure; a witty beauty is a power.
Not till the fire is dying in the grate, Look we for any kinship with the stars. Oh, wisdom never comes when it is gold, And the great price we paid for it full worth: We have it only when we are half earth. Little avails that coinage to the old!
Memoirs are the backstairs of history.
Remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted.
In real life we don't know what's going to happen next. So how can you be that way on a stage? Being alive to the possibility of not knowing exactly how everything is going to happen next - if you can find places to have that happen onstage, it can resonate with an experience of living.
I know what it's like to see one's mother go through the agony of death and be unable to help; there is no consolation. We all have to bear such heavy burdens, for they are unalterably linked to life.
In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.
Those who rhapsodize about the ease and joy of childhood have perhaps forgotten what it's like to be 12 years old.
My view is that, you know, life unfolds at its own rhythm. You know, I have never lived a life that I thought I could plan out. And I'm just trying to do the best I can every day. I find I have a lot to get done between the time I get up and the time I go to bed.
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