When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed. Man is a knot, a web, a mesh into which relationships are tied. Only those relationships matter. The body is an old crock that nobody will miss. I have never known a man to think of himself when dying. Never.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of relationships over physical existence.
Antoine De Saint-Exupery reflects on the nature of human existence by suggesting that when faced with death, it is the connections we have made with others that define us, rather than our physical bodies. He likens human life to a complex web of relationships, highlighting that in our final moments, we think not of ourselves but of those we have bonded with throughout our lives. Ultimately, he suggests that the body is merely a vessel, while our essence is found in the ties we create with others.
In practice
In a eulogy reflecting on a friend's life, this quote can highlight the value of the relationships built.
Grown-ups love figures... When you tell them you've made a new friend they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? " Instead they demand "How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? " Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.
Attitude is a paintbrush. It colors everything!
Water, thou hast no taste, no color, no odor; canst not be defined, art relished while ever mysterious. Not necessary to life, but rather life itself, thou fillest us with a gratification that exceeds the delight of the senses.
In those days, I didn't understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contadictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.
When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey.
Man is a knot into which relationships are tied.
I'm not stupid enough to think that I can deal with another 10 or 15 years of major exposure. I think that is the ultimate tragedy of fame... People who are simply out of control, who are lost. I've seen so many of them, and I don't want to be another cliche.
Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity - enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen.
We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin.
God is a scientist, not a magician.
Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.
Reality may avoid the obligation to be interesting, but ... hypotheses may not.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.