I'd rather have two good friends, than 500,000 admirers.
E. E. CummingsRead
my mind is a big hunk of irrevocable nothing which touch and taste and smell and hearing and sight keep hitting and chipping with sharp fatal tools in an agony of sensual chisels i perform squirms of chrome and ex -ecute strides of cobalt nevertheless i feel that i cleverly am being altered that i slightly am becoming something a little different, in fact myself hereupon helpless i utter lilac shrieks and scarlet bellowings
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the transformative nature of sensory experiences and the struggle of self-identity amidst chaos.
E. E. Cummings' quote delves into the complexity of human consciousness and identity. It portrays the mind as a battleground where the rich sensations of life—touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight—interact with an otherwise empty mental state, leading to an evolution of the self. The vivid imagery of 'chipping with sharp fatal tools' suggests that these experiences are both painful and transformative, contributing to a profound yet tumultuous sense of becoming. Ultimately, it captures the essence of how our experiences shape and alter us, even when we feel overwhelmed and helpless.
Themes
IdentityTransformationSensoryChaosExperience
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on personal growth, one might say, 'As E. E. Cummings reminds us, our experiences are shaping us every moment.'
More from E. E. Cummings
All quotes →I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.
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It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
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When god decided to invent everything he took one reath bigger than a circustent and everything began
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The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.
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Nobody else can be alive for you; nor can you be alive for anybody else.
E. E. CummingsRead
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