You are also the physician who must watch over yourself. But in the course of every illness there are many days in which the physician can do nothing but wait.
Interpretation
Self-care and patience are essential components of healing.
This quote emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility in one's own healing process. Rilke metaphorically compares individuals to their own physicians, indicating that while external help may be needed, the essence of healing lies within oneself, and sometimes the best course of action is to simply be patient and allow time to take its course.
In practice
You might use this quote when discussing the importance of mental health in a seminar.
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!
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.
a good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude
He reproduced himself with so much humble objectivity, with the unquestioning, matter of fact interest of a dog who sees himself in a mirror and thinks: there's another dog.
The only journey is the one within.
And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been
How can a troubled mind Understand the way? If a man is disturbed He will never be filled with knowledge. An untroubled mind, No longer seeking to consider What is right and what is wrong, A mind beyond judgements, Watches and understands. Know that the body is a fragile jar, And make a castle of your mind. In every trial Let understanding fight for you To defend what you have won.
Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
Our goal is to try to bring a calm and simplicity to what are incredibly complex problems so that you're not aware really of the solution.
There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.
That's the secret: be interesting. If you can't be interesting, shut up. There's nothing wrong with silence.
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