The way to see what looks good and understand the reasons it looks good, and to be at one with this goodness as the work proceeds, is to cultivate an inner quietness, a peace of mind so that goodness can shine through.
Robert M. PirsigRead
What I am is a heretic who's recanted and, thereby, in everyone's eyes, saved his soul. Everyone's eyes but one, who knows deep down inside that all he has saved is his skin.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the conflict between personal authenticity and societal acceptance.
In this thought-provoking quote, Robert M. Pirsig explores the tension between one's true self and the façade one presents to the world. The speaker identifies as a heretic who, despite reclaiming societal approval through recantation, understands that the act was ultimately a superficial one aimed at self-preservation rather than genuine redemption. This underscores the notion that external validation does not equate to inner truth, as the speaker's deeper awareness reveals the emptiness behind conforming to others' expectations.
Themes
HereticAuthenticitySocietyRedemptionSelf-PreservationTruth
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class discussing authenticity and societal norms.
More from Robert M. Pirsig
All quotes →When analytic thought, the knife, is applied to experience, something is always killed in the process.
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The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of a mountain.
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It's better not to see than to see wrongly.
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The truth knocks on the door and you say, go away, I'm looking for the truth, and it goes away. Puzzling.
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You want to know how to paint a perfect painting? It's easy. Make yourself perfect and then just paint naturally.
Robert M. PirsigRead
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