Those who understand only what can be explained understand very little.
Marie Von Ebner-EschenbachRead
In meeting again after a separation, acquaintances ask after our outward life, friends after our inner life.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the differences between acquaintances and true friends in how they engage after a period of separation.
Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach highlights the essential difference in levels of intimacy that exist in relationships. When we reunite with acquaintances, the conversation tends to revolve around superficial aspects of our lives, such as our external circumstances. In contrast, true friends delve deeper, showing genuine concern for our emotional and inner well-being, thus fostering a stronger connection.
In practice
In a speech about maintaining friendships, one might use this quote to illustrate the depth of true friendship.
Those who understand only what can be explained understand very little.
We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for.
Whoever prefers the material comforts of life over intellectual wealth is like the owner of a palace who moves into the servantsβ quarters and leaves the sumptuous rooms empty.
Authors from whom others steal should not complain, but rejoice. Where there is no game there are no poachers.
Have patience with the quarrelsomeness of the stupid. It is not easy to comprehend that one does not comprehend.
There is only one proof of ability - action.
A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship.
We are easily comforted for the misfortunes of our friends, when those misfortunes give us an occasion of expressing our affection and solicitude.
There is no surer foundation for a beautiful friendship than a mutual taste in literature.
We were not just competitors and colleagues, we were friends. We had a lot of opportunities to reflect on this in the last year. It was a competitive brotherhood.
Michael Jackson? He was something more (than one of my favorite entertainers), a true friend. He wasn't just a genius. Above all, he was a good person, who gave so much. He gave people values, he encouraged them to better themselves all the time. He was far deeper and more authentic than people could see. He was misunderstood too many times
The reason for my starting a diary is that I have no real friend.
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