I learned about life from life itself, love I learned in a single kiss and could teach no one anything except that I have lived with something in common among men.
Interpretation
Life experiences teach us valuable lessons, and love can be understood in simple moments.
In this quote, Pablo Neruda reflects on the profundity of life's lessons learned through personal experiences, asserting that while he can only share his knowledge of love through the simplicity of a kiss, these experiences resonate universally among all people. It highlights the importance of lived experiences as sources of wisdom and connection.
In practice
During a life coaching session, I quoted Neruda to emphasize the importance of personal experiences.
Perhaps this war will pass like the others which divided us leaving us dead, killing us along with the killers but the shame of this time puts its burning fingers to our faces. Who will erase the ruthlessness hidden in innocent blood?
I want to see the thirst inside the syllables I want to touch the fire in the sound: I want to feel the darkness of the cry. I want words as rough as virgin rocks.” - Verb.
Only do not forget, if I wake up crying it's only because in my dream I'm a lost child hunting through the leaves of the night for your hands.
And here am I, budding among the ruins with only sorrow to bite on, as if weeping were a seed and I the earth's only furrow.
Once more I am the silent one who came out of the distance wrapped in cold rain and bells: I owe to earth's pure death the will to sprout.
I have named you queen. There are taller than you, taller. There are purer than you, purer. There are lovelier than you, lovelier. But you are the queen.
One of the things I've learnt is not to depend on there being a woman in your life to make it work. I love my work, I love my children, I've got wonderful friends, you know, I have a nice life.
One of life's primal situations; the game of hide and seek. Oh, the delicious thrill of hiding while the others come looking for you, the delicious terror of being discovered, but what panic when, after a long search, the others abandon you! You mustn't hide too well. You mustn't be too good at the game. The player must never be bigger than the game itself.
The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.
What are the best things and the worst things in your life, and when are you going to get around to whispering or shouting them?
Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more.
This is how it works _x000D_ You're young until you're not _x000D_ You love until you don't _x000D_ You try until you can't _x000D_ You laugh until you cry _x000D_ You cry until you laugh _x000D_ And everyone must breathe _x000D_ Until their dying breath.
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