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Verses are not, as people think, feelings (those one has early enough) -- they are experiences. For the sake of a verse one must see many cities, men, and things, one must know the animals feel how birds fly, and know the gesture with which the little flowers open in the morning.
Rainer Maria Rilke
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Verses represent deep experiences rather than just feelings; they require rich life experiences to create.

Rainer Maria Rilke emphasizes that poetry and verses are born from profound experiences gained through living fully and observing the world. Unlike mere feelings, which may arise spontaneously, true artistic expression necessitates a deep understanding of various aspects of life, including nature, human interactions, and even the subtleties of different creatures and their behaviors.

Themes

ArtExperiencePoetryNatureLife

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture about the importance of experiencing life for creativity, one might quote Rilke to illustrate the connection between lived experience and artistic expression.

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Spring has again returned. _x000D_ _x000D_ The Earth is like a child that knows many poems._x000D_ _x000D_ Many, O so many. For the hardship_x000D_ _x000D_ of such long learning she receives the prize._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Strict was her teacher. _x000D_ _x000D_ The white in the old man's beard pleases us._x000D_ _x000D_ Now, what to call green, to call blue,_x000D_ _x000D_ we dare to ask: She knows, She knows!
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Quote by Rainer Maria Rilke | QuoteProject