I learned: the first lesson of my life: nobody can face the world with his eyes open all the time.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the importance of accepting that one cannot always be fully aware or vigilant in life.
In this quote, Salman Rushdie reflects on the human experience and the limitations inherent in facing reality. He suggests that being constantly alert and aware is not feasible, implying that there are moments when one must let go, close their eyes, or disengage from the harsh realities of life. This serves as a reminder to find balance between awareness and acceptance, as well as to acknowledge the necessity of rest and introspection.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about personal growth and resilience.
I've been fascinated by Machiavelli since I was very young. I've always felt that he had a bad rap from history, and that he was actually a person quite unlike what we now think of as Machiavellian. He was a republican. He disliked totalitarian government.
Killing people because you don't like their ideas - it's a bad thing.
faith without doubt is addiction
I am clearly vulnerable to these more passionate and volatile unstable relationships. I am trying to not be so vulnerable.
In India, as elsewhere in our darkening world, religion is the poison in the blood. Where religion intervenes, mere innocence is no excuse. Yet we go on skating around this issue, speaking of religion in the fashionable language of 'respect.' What is there to respect in any of this, or in any of the crimes now being committed almost daily around the world in religion's dreaded name?
Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from the past, the more concrete and plausible it seems - but as you approach the present, it inevitably seems more and more incredible.
Losing can persuade you to change what doesn't need to be changed, and winning can convince you everything is fine even if you are on the brink of disaster.
Being a good steward of your pain. . . . It involves being alive to your life. It involves taking the risk of being open, of reaching out, of keeping in touch with the pain as well as the joy of what happens because at no time more than at a painful time do we live out of the depths of who we are instead of out of the shallows.
It is likely that human beings will find fulfillment and will be rewarded for the same qualities that they have been rewarded for for 5,000 years. And that is intelligence, hard work, honesty, a sense of character, loyalty to family and friends, and above all, love and faith. If you are trying to decide what you should do, those are the things you should do. And you know it.
Do your work, but do your thing.
Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.
Have faith in yourselves, be proud of your ancestors, instead of being ashamed of them.
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