The Truth has shared so much of Itself with me That I can no longer call myself A man, a woman, an angel, Or even pure Soul.
The great religions are the ships, Poets the life boats. Every sane person I know has jumped overboard.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while religions provide foundational guidance, true understanding often requires individuals to seek their own paths.
In this metaphor, Hafez compares religions to large ships that carry people, while poets are likened to lifeboats that offer smaller, more intimate escapes. The statement implies that while many people find solace and direction in religion, true wisdom and insight often come from personal exploration and the art of poetry, which allows individuals to navigate their own experiences and emotions, especially in a world filled with complexities.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of creativity, you could use this quote to highlight how personal expression transcends traditional beliefs.
More from Hafez
All quotes βI once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded, 'love lifts me.'
The earth has disappeared beneath my feet, It fled from all my ecstasy. Now like a singing air creature I feel the rose keep opening.
For I have learned that every heart will get_x000D_ What it prays for_x000D_ Most.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly and wants to rip to shreds all your erroneous notions of the truth that make you fight within yourself, dear one, and with others, causing the world to weep on too many fine days... The Beloved sometimes wants to do us a great favor: Hold us upside down and shake all the nonsense out.
Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.
Similar quotes
The Few assume to be the deputies, but they are often only the despoilers of the Many.
My feeling is that the hero has now been defined by phrases like the odious one that we were all raised with - crimes does not pay. Of course it pays, you schmuck. That's not why we don't do it. We don't do it because it is wrong.
Silence has been destroyed, but also the idea that it's important to learn how another person thinks, to enter the mind of another person. The whole idea of empathy is gone. We are now part of this giant machine where every second we have to take out a device and contribute our thoughts and opinions.
The libertarian sees the State as a giant gang of organized criminals, who live off the theft called "taxation" and use the proceeds to kill, enslave, and generally push people around. Therefore, any property in the hands of the State is in the hands of thieves, and should be liberated as quickly as possible. Any person or group who liberates such property, who confiscates or appropriates it from the State, is performing a virtuous act and a signal service to the cause of liberty.
I am forced to get my living by the labour of my hand; and the sweat of my brow... for bitter bread, earned under the frowns of some who have no natural or divine right to be above me, and entirely owe their grandeur and honor to grinding the faces of the poor.
Although it is important to study and train for skill in techniques, for the man who wishes to truly accomplish the way of budo, it is important to makehis whole life in training and therefore not aiming for skill and strength alone, but also for spiritual attainment.