We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
I'm grateful for anything that reminds me of what's possible in this life. Books can do that. Films can do that. Music can do that. School can do that. It's so easy to allow one day to simply follow into the next, but every once in a while we encounter something that shows us that anything is possible, that dramatic change is possible, that something new can be made, that laughter can be shared.
Interpretation
This quote expresses gratitude for reminders of life's possibilities and the potential for change.
Jonathan Safran Foer's quote highlights the importance of being open to experiences—be it through books, films, music, or education—that inspire us and remind us of the infinite possibilities life offers. It suggests that while life can often feel monotonous, certain encounters can awaken us to the potential for dramatic change, creativity, and shared joy, encouraging us to embrace the new and the transformative.
In practice
In a graduation speech to encourage students to envision their future.
We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Memory was supposed to fill the time, but it made time a hole to be filled. Each second was two hundred yards, to be walked, crawled. You couldn't see the next hour, it was so far in the distance. Tomorrow was over the horizon, and would take an entire day to reach.
She was not crying Which surprised me very much But I understand now That she had found places For her melancholy That were behind more masks Than only her eyes
What do babies dream of? She must be dreaming of the before-life, just as I dream of the afterlife.
A few weeks after the worst day, I started writing lots of letters. I don't know why, but it was one of the only things that made my boots lighter.
What is being awake if not interpreting our dreams, or dreaming if not interpreting our wake?
In the end, we shall recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you’ll find your way home.
The things that bring you the greatest joy are in alignment with your purpose.
Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.
The fact that the great scientist believed in flying machines was the one thing that encouraged us to begin our studies.
We want to explore. We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore ... We believe in what we're doing. Now it's time to go.
I want you to get excited about who you are, what you are, what you have, and what can still be for you. I want to inspire you to see that you can go far beyond where you are right now.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.