Don't we forgive everything of a lover? We forgive selfishness, desire, guile. As long as we are the motive for it...There are some European words you can never translate properly into another language.
Michael OndaatjeRead
When we are young we do not look into mirrors. It is when we are old, concerned with our name, our legend, what our lives will mean to the future. We become vain with the names we own, our claims to have been the first eyes, the strongest army, the cleverest merchant. It is when he is old that Narcissus wants a graven image of himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As we age, we become increasingly concerned with our legacy and how we are perceived by others.
Michael Ondaatje's quote reflects on the human tendency to care about our identity and legacy as we grow older. In youth, we often live in the moment and do not scrutinize our reflections, but as we age, we become preoccupied with how we will be remembered and how our accomplishments define us, leading to an obsession with reputation, pride, and self-image, akin to Narcissus's need for recognition.
Themes
LegacyIdentityAgingReflectionVanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on personal growth, this quote can emphasize the importance of understanding our past to shape our future.
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