And as we stray further from love, we multiply the words. Had we remained together we could have become a silence.
I try to stay a civilian, to live as a human, not as a poet.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a desire to live a simple, human life rather than being defined solely by one's artistic identity.
Yehuda Amichai expresses the tension between being an artist and living a grounded, ordinary life. By stating his intention to remain a 'civilian', he highlights the importance of maintaining human connections and experiences above the pressures that come with being a poet. This sentiment resonates with the idea that a person's value isnβt solely defined by their profession or artistic role, but rather their shared humanity.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the balance between passion and practicality, you might quote this to emphasize the importance of staying grounded.
More from Yehuda Amichai
All quotes βSimilar quotes
If you take a few days to write an outline, you're just making up scenes that you think will work, that you think will be interesting. But as you write it, other ideas occur - better ideas that have to do with what you're writing.
What do dancers think of Fred Astaire? It's no secret. We hate him. He gives us a complex because he's too perfect. His perfection is an absurdity. It's too hard to face.
Retire? I'm going to stay in show business until I'm the only one left
Those of us in the industry who are still foolishly clinging to the idea that female films with women at the center are niche experiences - they are not. Audiences want to see them and, in fact, they earn money. The world is round, people.
The creation of a work of art, like an act of love, is our one small 'yes' at the center of a vast 'no.'
Good poetry and successful revolution change our lives. And you cannot compose a good poem or wage a revolution without changing consciousness unless you attack the language that you share with your enemies and invent a language that you share with your allies.