A man sometimes devotes his life to a desire which he is not sure will ever be fulfilled. Those who laugh at this folly are, after all, no more than mere spectators of life.
Rynosuke AkutagawaRead
17. Butterfly A butterfly fluttered its wings in a wind thick with the smell of seaweed. His dry lips felt the touch of the butterfly for the briefest instant, yet the wisp of wing dust still shone on his lips years later.
Interpretation
A simple moment can leave a lasting impact on our memories.
This quote by Rynosuke Akutagawa reflects on the beauty and transience of experiences in nature. The fleeting encounter with a butterfly symbolizes how a brief moment can resonate within us long after it has passed, highlighting the profound connections we can form with the world around us.
In practice
In a speech about embracing life's small joys, this quote could illustrate how fleeting experiences shape our happiness.
A man sometimes devotes his life to a desire which he is not sure will ever be fulfilled. Those who laugh at this folly are, after all, no more than mere spectators of life.
There are flood and drought over the eyes and in the mouth, dead water and dead sand contending for the upper hand. The parched eviscerate soil gapes at the vanity of toil, laughs without mirth. This is the death of the earth.
If we had better hearing, and could discern the descants of sea birds, the rhythmic tympani of schools of mollusks, or even the distant harmonics of midges hanging over meadows in the sun, the combined sound might lift us off our feet.
The philosophy that I have worked under most of my life is that the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person's life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way. It is my opinion that the study of natural history should be the primary avenue for creating environmentalists.
I flew helicopters, which actually is the second best view of the earth. The first best view is, I think, a little bit higher.
Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson from how this utterly unique and exquisite crystal turns into an ordinary, boring molecule of water just like every other one when you bring it into the classroom. And now, while the analogy sinks in, I will be leaving you drips and going outside.
Where the bee sucks, there suck I In the cow-slip's bell i lie There I couch when owls do cry
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.