The best poems take long journeys. I like poetry best that journeys--while remaining in the human scale--to the other world, which may be a place as easily overlooked as a bee's wing
Robert BlyRead
By the time a man is 35 he knows that the images of the right man, the tough man, the true man which he received in high school do not work in life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As people mature, they often realize that the ideals of masculinity taught in youth are inadequate for real life.
This quote reflects the evolution of a man's understanding of masculinity as he grows older. By age 35, many men come to recognize that the stereotypical images of what it means to be a 'real man'—the tough, unyielding figures presented to them in adolescence—are not only unrealistic but also unhelpful in navigating the complexities of adult life. This realization encourages a deeper, more nuanced understanding of masculinity that is rooted in authenticity rather than mere toughness.
Themes
MasculinityGrowthWisdomAuthenticityMaturity
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on personal development, this quote can inspire participants to reflect on their own definitions of masculinity.
More from Robert Bly
All quotes →As I've gotten older, I find I am able to be nourished more by sorrow and to distinguish it from depression.
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I am proud only of those days that pass in undivided tenderness.
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My feeling is that poetry is also a healing process, and then when a person tries to write poetry with depth or beauty, he will find himself guided along paths which will heal him, and this is more important, actually, than any of the poetry he writes.
Robert BlyRead
Every part of you that you do not love will regress and become hostile towards you.
Robert BlyRead
The door to the soul is unlocked; you do not need to please the doorkeeper, the door in front of you is yours, intended for you, and the doorkeeper obeys when spoken to.
Robert BlyRead
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