Things are going downhill with you!' he said to himself, and laughed about it, and as he was saying it, he happened to glance at the river, and he also saw the river going downhill, always moving on downhill, and singing and being happy through it all.
Interpretation
Embracing the challenges of life can bring joy, as seen in nature's perpetual flow.
This quote reflects on the inevitability of life's ups and downs, using the imagery of a river that constantly flows downhill. Despite its downward trajectory, the river is portrayed as happy, suggesting that one can find joy even in difficult circumstances. It encourages the reader to accept their challenges with a sense of humor and optimism, recognizing that life continues to flow and there is beauty to be found in the journey.
In practice
During a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles.
I shall no longer be instructed by the Yoga Veda or the Aharva Veda, or the ascetics, or any other doctrine whatsoever. I shall learn from myself, be a pupil of myself; I shall get to know myself, the mystery of Siddhartha." He looked around as if he were seeing the world for the first time.
That is where my dearest and brightest dreams have ranged — to hear for the duration of a heartbeat the universe and the totality of life in its mysterious, innate harmony.
I, also, would like to look and smile, sit and walk like that, so free, so worthy, so restrained, so candid, so childlike and mysterious. A man only looks and walks like that when he has conquered his Self. I also will conquer my Self.
You're quite right there," he said. "I have practiced abstinence myself for years, and had my time of fasting, too, but now I find myself once more beneath the sign of Aquarius, a dark and humid constellation.
I call that man awake who, with conscious knowledge and understanding, can perceive the deep unreasoning powers in his soul, his whole innermost strength, desire and weakness, and knows how to reckon with himself.
Despair is the result of each earnest attempt to go through life with virtue, justice and understanding, and to fulfill their requirements. Children live on one side of despair, the awakened on the other side.
We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.
Some people are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them.
The world does not require so much to be informed as to be reminded.
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.
One thing we have endeavoured to observe most scrupulously, namely, never to depart from the strictest facts and, in dealing with the difficult questions that have arisen during the year, we hope that we have used the utmost moderation possible under the circumstances.
There is but one coward on earth, and that is the coward that dare not know.
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