He will wipe the tears from all faces.' It takes nothing from the loveliness of the verse to say that is exactly what will be required
Marilynne RobinsonRead
The idea that myth is the opposite of knowledge, or the opposite of truth, is simply to disallow it. It is like saying poetry is the opposite of truth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Myth and poetry convey truths in ways that knowledge and facts cannot, and dismissing them limits our understanding.
Marilynne Robinson's quote emphasizes the idea that myths and poetry serve as expressive mediums that communicate truths about the human experience, which shouldn't be dismissed as mere fiction or falsehood. To consider myth as the opposite of knowledge undermines its value, as both realms can coexist and enrich our understanding of life, emotion, and reality in profound ways.
Themes
MythTruthPoetryKnowledgeUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a lecture about the value of literature in understanding human experience.
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There are worries that seem to me sustained by the love of worry. For example, that people are reading from screens, or listening to recorded books. Why scold the impulse to enjoy language and narrative in whatever form it takes?
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Teaching is a distraction and a burden, but it's also an incredible stimulus. And a reprieve, in a way. When you're trying to work on something and it's not going anywhere, you can go to school and there's a two-and-a-half-hour block of time in which you can accomplish something.
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