We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves.
Tom RobbinsRead
I'm an outlaw, not a philosopher, but I know this much: there's meaning in everything, all things are connected, and a good champagne is a drink.' Bernard began to sing again. Timidly, Leigh-Cheri joined in. Between verses, they opened another bottle. The popping of its cork echoed throughout the great stone chamber. Of the three billion people on earth, only Bernard and Leigh-Cheri heard the popping of the cork and its echoes. Only Bernard and Leigh-Cheri passed out under the tablecloth.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the interconnectedness of life and the significance of seemingly simple pleasures.
In this quote, Tom Robbins presents a character's perspective on life that emphasizes the idea that everything has meaning and that all aspects of existence are intertwined. Through the lens of joy in sharing a drink, the characters highlight how small moments can be profound, suggesting that one can find deeper insights into life through connection and appreciation for the present moment.
In practice
During a toast at a wedding, one might share this quote to express the joy and significance of the moment.
We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves.
There are many things worth living for, a few things worth dying for, and nothing worth killing for.
The unhappy person resents it when you try to cheer him up, because that means he has to stop dwelling on himself and start paying attention to the universe. Unhappiness is the ultimate form of self-indulgence. When you're unhappy, you get to pay a lot of attention to yourself. You get to take yourself oh so very seriously.
The Divine was beyond description, beyond knowing, beyond comprehension. To say that the Divine was Creation divided by Destruction was as close as one could come to definition. But the puny of soul, the dull of wit, weren't content with that. They wanted to hang a face on the Divine. They went so far as to attribute petty human emotions - anger, jealousy, etc - to it, not stopping to realize that if God were a being, even a supreme being, our prayers would have bored him to death long ago.
On their sofas of spice and feathers, the concubines also slept fretfully. In those days the Earth was still flat, and people dreamed often of falling over edges.
If you're honest, you sooner or later have to confront your values. Then you're forced to separate what is right from what is merely legal. This puts you metaphysically on the run. America is full of metaphysical outlaws.
Alas, where is there still a sea in which one could drown: thus our lament resounds β across shallow swamps.
All our scientific and philosophic ideals are altars to unknown gods.
Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.
That we are surrounded by deep mysteries is known to all but the incurably ignorant.
So few humans seem to fully exist themselves that I wonder if all this endless speculation and haggling about God is really an exploration of a more interesting and embarrassing question about ourselves.
If you are an American, you must allow all ideas to circulate freely in your community, not merely your own.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.