Whatever may be the tensions and the stresses of a particular day, there is always lurking close at hand the trailing beauty of forgotten joy or unremembered peace.
Howard ThurmanRead
What I have written is but a fleeting intimation of the outside of what one man sees and may tell about the path he walks. No one shares the secret of a life; no one enters into the heart of the mystery.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the individuality of human experience and the inherent solitude in understanding one's life journey.
Howard Thurman's quote emphasizes the uniqueness of personal experiences and the limitations of communication in conveying the depth of one's life. It suggests that while we may share our observations and narrate our journeys, the true essence of our inner lives and the complexities of our personal mysteries remain inaccessible to others. Each person's path is a solitary journey, lined with secrets that are often unshared.
Themes
IndividualityExperienceMysterySolitudeJourney
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a discussion about the nature of personal experiences in a philosophy class.
More from Howard Thurman
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There must be always remaining in every life, some place for the singing of angels, some place for that which in itself is breathless and beautiful.
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At the core of life is a hard purposefulness, a determination to live.
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