Living substance conquers the frenzy of destruction only in the ecstasy of procreation.
Walter BenjaminRead
All the decisive blows are struck left-handed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that unconventional or unexpected methods can lead to significant outcomes.
Walter Benjamin's quote implies that many of the most impactful actions or ideas come from the unconventional or left-handed approach, symbolizing creativity and non-traditional thinking. It encourages us to consider perspectives and solutions that may not be mainstream but can be powerful in their effectiveness.
Themes
DecisiveCreativeLeft-HandedUnconventionalImpact
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing creativity, one might reference this quote to inspire novel thinking.
More from Walter Benjamin
All quotes →The illiterate of the future will not be the man who cannot read the alphabet, but the one who cannot take a photograph.
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If mythic violence is lawmaking, divine violence is law-destroying; if the former sets boundaries, the latter boundlessly destroys them; if mythic violence brings at once guilt and retribution, divine power only expiates; if the former threatens, the latter strikes; if the former is bloody, the latter is lethal without spilling blood
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Writers are really people who write books not because they are poor, but because they are dissatisfied with the books which they could buy but do not like.
Walter BenjaminRead
Nothing is poorer than a truth expressed as it was thought. Committed to writing in such cases, it is not even a bad photograph. Truth wants to be startled abruptly, at one stroke, from her self-immersion, whether by uproar, music or cries for help.
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I am unpacking my library. Yes I am. The books are not yet on the shelves, not yet touched by the mild boredom of order.
Walter BenjaminRead
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Reputation matters so much only because people so seldom think for themselves.
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Enlarge my life with multitude of days, In health, in sickness, thus the suppliant prays; Hides from himself his state, and shuns to know, That life protracted is protracted woe. Time hovers o'er, impatient to destroy, And shuts up all the passages of joy.
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It is often safer to be in chains than to be free.
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