We took away your art because we thought it would reveal your souls. Or to put it more finely, we did it to prove you had souls at all.
Kazuo IshiguroRead
I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the inevitability of separation in relationships despite deep love.
In this poignant expression, the author uses the metaphor of a river to illustrate how strong currents can represent the forces that pull people apart, even when there is a deep bond. The imagery of two people struggling to hold onto each other amidst the powerful flow highlights the themes of love, struggle, and the acceptance of life's impermanence, suggesting that sometimes love is not enough to keep people together as circumstances change.
Themes
LoveSeparationRelationshipsImpermanenceLetting Go
In practice
Example use cases
A heartfelt speech at a wedding that acknowledges the complexity of lasting love.
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We all live inside bodies that will deteriorate. But when you look at human beings, they're capable of very decent things: love, loyalty. When time is running out, they don't care about possessions or status. They want to put things right if they've done wrong.
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