Making art in America is about saving one's soul.
Charles SimicRead
The plain truth is we are going to die. Here I am, a teeny spec surrounded by boundless space and time, arguing with the whole of creation, shaking my fist, sputtering, growing even eloquent at times, and then-poof! I am gone. Swept off once and for all. I think that is very, very funny.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is fleeting and absurd, and acknowledging this can bring humor.
In this quote, Charles Simic reflects on the transient nature of existence, highlighting the irony of humans arguing with the vastness of the universe. He suggests that recognizing our mortality and the absurdity of life can lead to a humorous perspective on our struggles and conflicts.
Themes
MortalityHumorExistenceAbsurdityLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about embracing life's unpredictability at a philosophy seminar.
More from Charles Simic
All quotes →Insomnia is an all-night travel agency with posters advertising faraway places.
Charles SimicRead
I was already dozing off in the shade, dreaming that the rustling trees were my many selves explaining themselves all at the same time so that I could not make out a single word. My life was a beautiful mystery on the verge of understanding, always on the verge! Think of it!
Charles SimicRead
A poem is an invitation to a voyage. As in life, we travel to see fresh sights.
Charles SimicRead
If I believe in anything, it is in the dark night of the soul. Awe is my religion, and mystery is its church.
Charles SimicRead
We name one thing and then another. That’s how time enters poetry. Space, on the other hand, comes into being through the attention we pay to each word. The more intense our attention, the more space, and there’s a lot of space inside words.
Charles SimicRead
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When Abba Anthony thought about the depths of the judgments of God, he asked, 'Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper and why are the just in need?' He heard a voice answering him, 'Antony, keep your attention on yourself; these things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.'
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