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.
Nothing is lost upon a man who is bent upon growth; nothing wasted on one who is always preparing for - life by keeping eyes, mind and heart open to nature, men, books, experience - and what he gathers serves him at unexpected moments in unforeseen ways.
Whatever your work and whatever its worth, No matter how strong or clever, Some one will sneer if you pause to hear, And scoff at your best endeavor. For the target art has a broad expanse, And wherever you chance to hit it, Though close be your aim to the bull's-eye fame, There are those who will never admit it.
Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.
The greatest evil that can befall man is that he should come to think ill of himself.
I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could.
Sympathy with joy intensifies the sum of sympathy in the world, sympathy with pain does not really diminish the amount of pain.
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