When I sleep every night, what am I called or not called? And when I wake, who am I if I was not I while I slept?
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the nature of identity and consciousness during sleep and waking states.
Pablo Neruda's quote delves into the philosophical question of self and identity. It prompts contemplation on the continuity of consciousness and what it means to exist as 'oneself'. While sleeping, our conscious awareness seems to disappear, leading to questions about who we are in those moments and if our identity is merely linked to wakefulness. This exploration highlights the complexities of understanding human existence and the essence of our self-awareness.
In practice
During a philosophy class discussion on the nature of self and consciousness.
Perhaps this war will pass like the others which divided us leaving us dead, killing us along with the killers but the shame of this time puts its burning fingers to our faces. Who will erase the ruthlessness hidden in innocent blood?
I want to see the thirst inside the syllables I want to touch the fire in the sound: I want to feel the darkness of the cry. I want words as rough as virgin rocks.β - Verb.
Only do not forget, if I wake up crying it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands.
And here am I, budding among the ruins with only sorrow to bite on, as if weeping were a seed and I the earth's only furrow.
Once more I am the silent one who came out of the distance wrapped in cold rain and bells: I owe to earth's pure death the will to sprout.
I learned about life from life itself, love I learned in a single kiss and could teach no one anything except that I have lived with something in common among men.
The lotus grows in muddy waters but this flower does not show any trace of it: So we have to live in the world.
Accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, mental degradation, at the opposite pole
We are like plants which have the one choice of being in or out of the light.
Truthful words are not beautiful; beautiful words are not truthful. Good words are not persuasive; persuasive words are not good.
Life expects of you duties which appear repugnant to you. You must now know that the most important thing is not duties but what permits you to be someone good and just. There are many who will say to you that this is a piece of asocial advice, but you only have to reply to them: When the forms of society are so hard and hostile to life, it is more important to be asocial than inhuman
Equality lies only in human moral dignity. ... Let there be brothers first, then there will be brotherhood, and only then will there be a fair sharing of goods among brothers.
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