It seems like suffering's the only time we can see what's essential. If peace ever comes back I'm making a vow: I'll design myself special glasses. They'll block out whether people are fat or thin or beautiful or weird-looking, whether they have pimples or birthmarks or different coloured skin. They'll do everything suffering's done for us, but without the pain. I'm going to wear those glasses for the rest of my life.
Interpretation
Suffering can reveal the true essence of life beyond superficial judgments based on appearance.
In this quote, John Marsden reflects on how suffering has a unique ability to strip away the trivial and superficial aspects of life, allowing us to see what is truly important. He expresses a desire to carry this perspective forward, symbolized by the idea of wearing 'special glasses' that help focus on essential qualities rather than outward appearances, emphasizing a vision of acceptance and understanding devoid of pain.
In practice
During a motivational speech about resilience, one might use this quote to illustrate how challenges can enhance our perspective.
So I found myself telling my own stories. It was strange: as I did it I realised how much we get shaped by our stories. It's like the stories of our lives make us the people we are. If someone had no stories, they wouldn't be human, wouldn't exist. And if my stories had been different I wouldn't be the person I am.
There are some things that once you've lost, you never get back. Innocence is one. Love is another. I guess childhood is a third.
The most important experiences a man can have are those that take him to the very limit; that is the only way we learn, because it requires all our courage.
Self is the only prison that can ever bind the soul.
Men of genius are often dull and inert in society; as the blazing meteor, when it descends to earth, is only a stone.
Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.
We are so busy doing the urgent that we don't have time to do the important.
I don't look at emails, Internet or newspapers before 1 P.M. I wake at 7 A.M., eat fruit, drink tea or coffee, and read what I've achieved, or not achieved, the previous day. Then I take a shower and work on my next sentence until 1 P.M. After I've done emails and so on, I write again from 3 P.M. until 8 P.M.; then I socialise.
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