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
To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow. For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know any thing so utterly as when we lack it? And here again is a foreshadowing - the world will be made whole. For to wish for a hand on one's hair is all but to feel it. So whatever we may lose, very craving gives it back to us again.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Desire enhances our experience and perception of what we long for, making loss feel profound yet also providing a sense of connection.
This quote reflects on the relationship between longing and experience, suggesting that the desire for something can intensify its perceived value and sweetness. Marilynne Robinson poetically implies that our cravings and wishes allow us to experience a connection with what we miss, almost bringing it back to us emotionally, thus highlighting the nuances of desire and loss in our lives.
Themes
CravingDesireLongingExperienceLossPerception
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the importance of desire in personal growth.
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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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