Poets are being pursued by the philosophers today, out of the poverty of philosophy. God damn it, you might think a man had no business to be writing, to be a poet unless some philosophic stinker gave him permission.
William Carlos WilliamsRead
For the beginning is assuredly the end- since we know nothing, pure and simple, beyond our own complexities.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the start and finish of our understanding are intertwined with the complexities of our existence.
William Carlos Williams highlights the idea that our comprehension of life is limited to the complexities we embody. The beginning and end are interconnected, suggesting that our awareness of life is shaped by the intricacies of our personal experiences and uncertainties. Essentially, it reflects on the paradox of knowledge, where knowing little allows us to comprehend the bigger picture of existence through our own complexity.
Themes
KnowledgeComplexityUnderstandingLifePhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical discussion about the nature of existence.
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O frost bitten blossoms, That are unfolding your wings From out the envious black branches. Bloom quickly and make much of the sunshine. The twigs conspire against you! Hear hem! They hold you from behind.
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No opinion can be trusted; even the facts may be nothing but a printer's error.
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It is almost impossible to state what one in fact believes, because it is almost impossible to hold a belief and to define it at the same time.
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Death will be too late to bring us aid.
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