With the beginning of life, comes the thirst for truth, whereas the ability to lie is gradually acquired in the process of trying to stay alive.
Gao XingjianRead
Young man, nature is not frightening, it's people who are frightening! You just need to get to know nature and it will become friendly. This creature known as man is of course highly intelligent, he's capable of manufacturing almost anything from rumours to test-tube babies and yet he destroys two to three species every day. This is the absurdity of man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that nature itself is not to be feared, but rather the behavior of humans is what is truly frightening.
Gao Xingjian's quote suggests that nature should not be regarded as something to fear; instead, it is human behavior that presents real dangers. As intelligent beings, humans have the capacity for great creativity and technology, yet they often act destructively towards the natural world, leading to the extinction of numerous species. This paradoxical nature of humanity highlights both its absurdity and its responsibility towards the environment.
Themes
NatureHumanityAbsurdityFearIntelligenceDestruction
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about environmental conservation.
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