I will not close my eyes, neither those in my head nor those in my soul, as the ship carries me away, along with my future, my dreams, and my beliefs. Buru Island is no happy land somewhere; it's but a way station on my journey in life—though to believe even that much will require no small measure of hope.
Interpretation
This quote reflects a determination to remain aware and hopeful despite life's journey and its challenges.
In this quote, Pramoedya Ananta Toer emphasizes the importance of staying conscious and hopeful as one navigates through life's journey. He acknowledges that while Buru Island may not be an ultimate destination of happiness, it serves as a pivotal point in his life where hope and belief sustain him amidst trials and uncertainties.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech to inspire resilience in the face of challenges.
Do not underestimate the human being, who sometimes appears so simple. Even with sight as sharp as an eagle, a mind as sharp as a razor, senses more powerful than gods, hearing that can catch the music and the lamentations of life, your knowledge of humanity will never be total.
The point is to live everything.
Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.
It is true that I had wanted to die , but that is peculiarly different from regretting having been born. Overwhelmingly, I was enormously glad to have been born, grateful for life, and I couldn’t imagine not wanting to pass on life to someone else.
It is true that I have had heartache and tragedy in my life. These are things none of us avoids. Suffering is the price of being alive.
When you're surfing you're not thinking about where you parked the car or what you're going to do when you grow up or what you're going to buy when you've got lots of money. You know, you're just there. You're in the moment. And I think in a contemporary world, that's a rare privilege.
There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.