They don't ask much of you. They only want you to hate the things you love and to love the things you despise.
He is her glory. Any woman could say it. For every one of them, God is in her child. Mothers of great men must have been familiar with this feeling, but then, all women are mothers of great men -- it isn't their fault if life disappoints them later.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the profound connection between motherhood and the potential greatness of children, highlighting the intrinsic value women bring through their roles as mothers.
In this quote, Boris Pasternak emphasizes the sacred bond between mothers and their children, suggesting that every woman carries within her the potential for raising remarkable individuals. It reflects the idea that the essence of God exists in the child, showcasing a deep spiritual connection that transcends disappointment in life, reminding us that every woman has the capacity for greatness through her offspring.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech celebrating women's contributions to society, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of mothers in shaping future leaders.
More from Boris Pasternak
All quotes →Even so, one step from my grave, I believe that cruelty, spite, The powers of darkness will in time, Be crushed by the spirit of light.
Our evenings are farewells. Our parties are testaments. So that the secret stream of suffering. May warm the cold of life.
The most extraordinary discoveries are made when the artist is overwhelmed by what he has to say.
Oh, how one wishes sometimes to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence, from all those sublime phrases, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labor, of sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!
They loved each other, not driven by necessity, by the "blaze of passion" often falsely ascribed to love. They loved each other because everything around them willed it, the trees and the clouds and the sky over their heads and the earth under their feet.
Similar quotes
Having children takes the focus off yourself, which I'm really grateful for. I'm so tired of thinking about myself. I'm sick of myself. You feel you want to be there and not miss out on anything. It's a true joy and a very profound love. You can write a book, you can make a movie, you can paint a painting, but having kids is the most extraordinary thing I've ever taken on.
My children come first and the career comes in around that.
I've never felt like I was in my mother's shadow. If anything, I felt like I was in her embrace.
Mindful parenting is the hardest job on the planet, but it's also one that has the potential for the deepest kinds of satisfactions over the life span, and the greatest feelings of interconnectedness and community and belonging.
It's important for a parent to learn to take delight in a child whose behavior might seem mystifying. In the case of an extroverted parent with an introverted child, it can be learning to see the inner riches of your child that may not always be expressed on the surface - but are there.
A mother has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.