What a test that is: more than devotion, admiration, passion. If you long and long for someone’s company you love them.
Iris MurdochRead
Human affairs are not serious, but they have to be taken seriously.
Interpretation
What this quote means
While human activities may seem trivial, they require a serious approach and consideration.
Iris Murdoch's quote reflects the paradox of human existence, suggesting that although our daily lives and choices might appear insignificant in the grand scheme of things, it is essential to engage with them earnestly. This duality emphasizes that seriousness in our interactions and decisions is necessary to navigate the complexities of life and relationships, acknowledging the weight of our actions despite their seeming triviality.
Themes
Human AffairsSeriousnessLifeTrivialityEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about finding meaning in everyday actions.
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All art deals with the absurd and aims at the simple. Good art speaks truth, indeed is truth, perhaps the only truth.
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A bad review is even less important than whether it is raining in Patagonia.
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Perhaps when distant people on other planets pick up some wavelength of ours all they hear is a continuous scream.
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