English is the only interesting thing that's left in my life.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a deep value placed on language as a vital element of existence amidst other uninteresting aspects of life.
Joseph Brodsky highlights the significance of language, specifically English, as the sole captivating element in his life. This perspective suggests that, despite other facets of life potentially fading in interest or appeal, the power of language remains a compelling force for expression, connection, and meaning.
In practice
A teacher might use this quote to emphasize the importance of learning a language in life.
Basically, it's hard for me to assess myself, a hardship not only prompted by the immodesty of the enterprise, but because one is not capable of assessing himself, let alone his work. However, if I were to summarize, my main interest is the nature of time. That's what interests me most of all. What time can do to a man.
One always pulls the trigger out of self-interest and quotes history to avoid responsibility or pangs of conscience.
On the whole, infinity is a fairly palpable aspect of this business of publishing, if only because it extends a dead author's existence beyond the limits he envisioned, or provides a living author with a future he cannot measure. In other words, this business deals with the future which we all prefer to regard as unending.
The invention of ethical and political doctrines, which blossomed into our own social sciences, is a product of times when things appeared manageable. The same goes for the criticism of those doctrines, though as a voice from the past, this criticism proved prophetic.
Try not to pay attention to those who will try to make life miserable for you. There will be a lot of those - in the official capacity as well as the self-appointed.
To put it in plain language, Russia is that country where the name of a writer appears not on the cover of his book, but on the door of his prison cell.
There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live.
It seemed cruel for a day to dawn so fair and end so foul as this one promised to.
We used to think that aging was a lot like, as if we were cars made fresh and youthful and then we've entered this breakdown in diet. What we didn't realize until recently is that we're much more complex than a car. We fix ourselves if we're broken.
In his life, a man can change wives, political parties or religions but he cannot change his favourite soccer team.
Pools of sorrow. Waves of joy.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life.
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