the knowledge of impermanence that haunts our days is their very fragrance.
Interpretation
The awareness of life's transient nature enhances our appreciation for each moment.
Rainer Maria Rilke suggests that recognizing the impermanence of life serves as a poignant reminder of its beauty, depth, and significance. This knowledge, which can be unsettling, ultimately enriches our experiences and imbues our days with a sense of preciousness, allowing us to savor the fleeting moments that make life meaningful.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of mindfulness, this quote reminds everyone to cherish the moment.
Spring has again returned. _x000D_ _x000D_ The Earth is like a child that knows many poems._x000D_ _x000D_ Many, O so many. For the hardship_x000D_ _x000D_ of such long learning she receives the prize._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_ Strict was her teacher. _x000D_ _x000D_ The white in the old man's beard pleases us._x000D_ _x000D_ Now, what to call green, to call blue,_x000D_ _x000D_ we dare to ask: She knows, She knows!
Verses are not, as people think, feelings (those one has early enough) -- they are experiences. For the sake of a verse one must see many cities, men, and things, one must know the animals feel how birds fly, and know the gesture with which the little flowers open in the morning.
a good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude
He reproduced himself with so much humble objectivity, with the unquestioning, matter of fact interest of a dog who sees himself in a mirror and thinks: there's another dog.
The only journey is the one within.
And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been
Wealth does not bring about excellence (aka areté), but excellence (aka areté) brings about wealth and all other public and private blessings for men.
Keep a diary, and someday it'll keep you.
And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
If you will just start with the idea that this is a hard world, it will all be much simpler.
I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
Everyone eats and drinks; yet only few appreciate the taste of food.
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