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.
Dear mama, yo baby boys doing fine tell the homies I'm in heaven and they aint got hoods.
Life’s never a postcard of life, is it? It never feels like how you’d want it to look.
Life's a test, mistakes are lessons, but the gift of life is knowing that you have made a difference.
Whatever I'm doing, I'm in that moment and I'm doing it. The rest of the world's lost. If I'm cooking some food or making soup, I want it to be lovely. If not, what's the point of doing it?
There were many moments in the Vine like that one--where you might think today was yesterday, and yesterday was tomorrow, and so on. Because we all believed we were tragic, and we drank. We had that helpless, destined feeling. We would die with handcuffs on. We would be put a stop to, and it wouldn't be our fault. So we imagined. And yet we were always being found innocent for ridiculous reasons.
As long as you have a garden you have a future and as long as you have a future you are alive.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.