Each in the most hidden sack kept the lost jewels of memory, intense love, secret nights and permanent kisses, the fragment of public or private happiness. A few, the wolves, collected thighs, other men loved the dawn scratching mountain ranges or ice floes, locomotives, numbers. For me happiness was to share singing, praising, cursing, crying with a thousand eyes. I ask forgiveness for my bad ways: my life had no use on earth.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the personal and varied definitions of happiness, emphasizing shared experiences over material pursuits.
Pablo Neruda's quote highlights the complexity of happiness, suggesting that it is found not in material possessions or solitary pursuits but in shared emotional experiences with others. It contrasts the superficial collection of moments with the deep, often secret joys and sorrows that characterize genuine human connections, embracing the idea that true fulfillment comes from singing, praising, and connecting with those around us.
In practice
During a toast at a wedding, one could quote Neruda to emphasize the joy of shared love and moments.
Perhaps this war will pass like the others which divided us leaving us dead, killing us along with the killers but the shame of this time puts its burning fingers to our faces. Who will erase the ruthlessness hidden in innocent blood?
I want to see the thirst inside the syllables I want to touch the fire in the sound: I want to feel the darkness of the cry. I want words as rough as virgin rocks.” - Verb.
Only do not forget, if I wake up crying it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands.
And here am I, budding among the ruins with only sorrow to bite on, as if weeping were a seed and I the earth's only furrow.
Once more I am the silent one who came out of the distance wrapped in cold rain and bells: I owe to earth's pure death the will to sprout.
I learned about life from life itself, love I learned in a single kiss and could teach no one anything except that I have lived with something in common among men.
The disturbers of our happiness, in this world, are our desires, our griefs, and our fears.
Virtue and Happiness are Mother and Daughter.
A well-spent day brings happy sleep.
There is a very Simple Secret to being happy. Just let go of your 'demand' on this moment. Any time you have a demand on the moment to give you something or remove something, there is suffering. You're Arguing with 'What Is' - Your demands keep you chained to the 'dream-state' of the conditioned mind. The desire to 'control'... is, ultimately, our unwillingness to just be awake.
A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor — such is my idea of happiness.
One must laugh before one is happy, or one may die without ever laughing at all.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.