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Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear, and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom.
Zora Neale Hurston
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Suffering teaches us fear, which ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of life and wisdom.

This quote by Zora Neale Hurston suggests that the experience of suffering is a universal condition that instills fear in humanity. It argues that this fear is not merely a negative emotion but is crucial for personal development and enlightenment, acting as a foundation for wisdom akin to how stones are used to build altars. By embracing and understanding our fears born from suffering, we can begin to cultivate wisdom and insight into the human experience.

Themes

FearSufferingWisdomEmotionGrowth

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, one might say, 'Remember, through suffering, we gain the wisdom that shapes our character.'

More from Zora Neale Hurston

It seems that fighting is a game where everybody is the loser.
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Lack of power and opportunity passes off too often for virtue.
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From barren brown stems to glistening leaf-buds; from the leaf-buds to snowy virginity of bloom…It was like a flute song forgotten in another existence and remembered again. What? How? Why? This singing she heard that had nothing to do with her ears. The rose of the world was breathing out smell. It followed her through all her waking moments and caressed her in her sleep.
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Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me.
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Don't you realize that the sea is the home of water? All water is off on a journey unless it's in the sea, and it's homesick, and bound to make its way home someday.
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Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves.
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