It seems that fighting is a game where everybody is the loser.
Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear, and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Suffering teaches us fear, which ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of life and wisdom.
This quote by Zora Neale Hurston suggests that the experience of suffering is a universal condition that instills fear in humanity. It argues that this fear is not merely a negative emotion but is crucial for personal development and enlightenment, acting as a foundation for wisdom akin to how stones are used to build altars. By embracing and understanding our fears born from suffering, we can begin to cultivate wisdom and insight into the human experience.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, one might say, 'Remember, through suffering, we gain the wisdom that shapes our character.'
More from Zora Neale Hurston
All quotes βLack of power and opportunity passes off too often for virtue.
From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloomβ¦It was like a flute song forgotten in another existence and remembered again. What? How? Why? This singing she heard that had nothing to do with her ears. The rose of the world was breathing out smell. It followed her through all her waking moments and caressed her in her sleep.
Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me.
Don't you realize that the sea is the home of water? All water is off on a journey unless it's in the sea, and it's homesick, and bound to make its way home someday.
Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves.
Similar quotes
People who are not enjoying their lives in the present have lust for life in the future. Lust for life is always in the future. It is a postponement. They are saying, 'We cannot enjoy today so we will enjoy tomorrow.' They are saying, 'Right this moment we cannot celebrate, so let there be a tomorrow so that we can celebrate.'
As a child, I didn't know what I didn't have. I'm thankful for the challenges early on in my life because now I have a perspective on the world and kind of know what's important.
Many of us worry about the situation of the world . . . We need to remain calm, to see clearly. Meditation is a means to be aware, and to try to help.
In my tradition, one must wait until one has learned a lot of Bible and Talmud and the Prophets to handle mysticism. This isn't instant coffee. There is no instant mysticism.
Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time. On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean.
Needing approval is like saying 'your view of me is more important than my own opinion of myself'.