I will not close my eyes, neither those in my head nor those in my soul, as the ship carries me away, along with my future, my dreams, and my beliefs. Buru Island is no happy land somewhere; it's but a way station on my journey in life—though to believe even that much will require no small measure of hope.
Interpretation
This quote reflects a determination to remain aware and hopeful despite life's journey and its challenges.
In this quote, Pramoedya Ananta Toer emphasizes the importance of staying conscious and hopeful as one navigates through life's journey. He acknowledges that while Buru Island may not be an ultimate destination of happiness, it serves as a pivotal point in his life where hope and belief sustain him amidst trials and uncertainties.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a motivational speech to inspire resilience in the face of challenges.
Do not underestimate the human being, who sometimes appears so simple. Even with sight as sharp as an eagle, a mind as sharp as a razor, senses more powerful than gods, hearing that can catch the music and the lamentations of life, your knowledge of humanity will never be total.
Thank Heaven! The crisis /The danger is past, and the lingering illness, is over at last /, and the fever called ''Living'' is conquered at last.
For better or for worse, I've watched people die in front of me. I see how they are in the end. And they're not cynical. In the end, they wanna hold somebody's hand. And that's real to me.
Experience life in all possible ways -- good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don't be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become.
Hunger has always been more or less at my elbow when I played, but now I began to wake up at night to find hunger standing at my bedside, staring at my gauntly.
Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
When everything happens to you when you're so young, you're very lucky, but by the same token, you're never going to have that same feeling again. The first time anything happens to you - your first love, your first success - the second one is never the same.
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