When everything seems to be set to show me off as intelligent, the fool I always keep hidden takes over all that I say.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the internal conflict between intelligence and foolishness within a person.
Pablo Neruda's quote reveals the struggle between one's public persona and the private self. It suggests that even when we strive to appear intelligent or wise, there exists a part of us—often hidden—that can undermine this facade, leading us to say or do foolish things. This duality highlights the complexity of human nature and the tension between our aspirations and our more vulnerable aspects.
In practice
In a speech about the complexity of human nature, I might quote this to illustrate that everyone has both wisdom and folly within them.
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.” - 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.
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others.
As human beings we have unlimited potential and imagination. The worst thing you can do is be a conformist and buy into conformity. It's the worst possible thing. It's better to be outrageous. It's better to hang out with the sages, the people open to possibilities, even the psychotics. You never know where you'll find the geniuses of our society.
There's a whole category of people who miss out by not allowing themselves to be weird enough.
Our ignorance allowed us to live, as you are in the mountains, and your rope is frayed and about to break, but you don't know it and feel safe.
You are more than you think you are. There are dimensions of your being and a potential for realization and consciousness that are not included in your concept of yourself. Your life is much deeper and broader than you conceive it to be here. What you are living is but a fractional inkling of what is really within you, what gives you life, breadth, and depth.
You need to remember that. If you’re to have decent lives, you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of you.
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