You know the old adage: Plant an expectation, reap a disappointment.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the human being's difficulty in coming to viruous balance with himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We all possess both positive and negative traits, and our struggles stem from balancing them.
This quote by Elizabeth Gilbert reflects on the duality of human nature, suggesting that everyone has both dark and light aspects within them. The chaos in the world arises not from the existence of these traits, but from our difficulty in achieving a harmonious balance between them, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and personal growth in overcoming internal and external turmoil.
Themes
BalanceDualitySelf-AwarenessLightDarknessHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about mental health and personal growth.
More from Elizabeth Gilbert
All quotes →Do not apologize for crying. Without this emotion, we are only robots.
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I had always been taught that the pursuit of happiness was my natural (even national) birthright. It is the emotional trademark of my culture to seek happiness. Not just any kind of happiness, either, but profound happiness, even soaring happiness. And what could possibly bring a person more soaring happiness than romantic love.
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When I tried this morning, after an hour or so of unhappy thinking, to dip back into my meditation, I took a new idea with me: compassion. I asked my heart if it could please infuse my soul with a more generous perspective on my mind's workings. Instead of thinking that I was a failure, could I perhaps accept that I am only a human being--and a normal one, at that?
Elizabeth GilbertRead
And when you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt - this is not selfishness, but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty to find something beautiful within life no matter how slight.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
But never again use another person's body or emotions as a scratching post for your own unfulfilling yearnings.
Elizabeth GilbertRead
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