When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
We live in a flash of light; evening comes and it is night forever. It's only a flash and we waste it. We waste it with our anxiety, our worries, our concerns, our burdens.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is fleeting, and we often waste it on worries and anxieties.
In this profound observation, Anthony De Mello reflects on the transience of life, likening our existence to a brief flash of light before night falls. He urges us to recognize the futility of allowing anxiety and burdens to overshadow our experiences, suggesting that we should instead cherish the limited time we have and focus on living fully rather than being consumed by worries.
Themes
LifeAnxietyWorryTimePresent
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about managing stress and living in the moment.
More from Anthony De Mello
All quotes βPerfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
Anthony De MelloRead
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
Anthony De MelloRead
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
Anthony De MelloRead
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Anthony De MelloRead
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Anthony De MelloRead
Similar quotes
To me, life is like the back nine in golf. Sometimes you play better on the back nine. You may not be stronger, but hopefully you're wiser. And if you keep most of your marbles intact, you can add a note of wisdom to the coming generation.
Clint EastwoodRead
Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more.
Aretha FranklinRead
I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself away like a tree that sows seed every spring and never counts the loss, because it is not loss, it is adding to future life. It is the tree's way of being. Strongly rooted perhaps, but spilling out its treasure on the wind.
May SartonRead
My only concern was to get home after a hard day's work.
Rosa ParksRead
Live well, learn plenty, laugh often, love much.
Ralph Waldo EmersonRead
I used to meditate all the time in bed. That was when I was raising my daughter, and I'd get her up and off to school, and then I would go back to bed and meditate. And then I would do the same in the evening, and that was very good for that period because I had so many things to juggle as a single mother.
Alice WalkerRead