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The mind, whatever else it is, is a constant of everyone's experience, and, in more ways than we know, the creator of the reality that we live within... Nothing is more essential to us.
Marilynne Robinson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The mind shapes our perception of reality and is fundamental to our existence.

This quote by Marilynne Robinson emphasizes the fundamental role of the mind in our experience of reality. It suggests that our thoughts and perceptions are not just byproducts of our existence but rather the very foundation of how we interpret and interact with the world around us. The mind is portrayed as a constant force that influences our reality in profound ways, highlighting its essential nature in defining our experiences and understanding of life.

Themes

MindRealityPerceptionExperienceThought

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the impact of mindset on personal growth, this quote could serve as a powerful reminder of the mind's role in shaping our reality.

More from Marilynne Robinson

He will wipe the tears from all faces.' It takes nothing from the loveliness of the verse to say that is exactly what will be required
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It seems to me there is less meanness in atheism, by a good measure. It seems that the spirit of religious self-righteousness this article deplores is precisely the spirit in which it is written. Of course he's right about many things, one of them being the destructive potency of religious self-righteousness. (p. 146)
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A narrow pond would form in the orchard, water clear as air covering grass and black leaves and fallen branches, all around it black leaves and drenched grass and fallen branches, and on it, slight as an image in an eye, sky, clouds, trees, our hovering faces and our cold hands.
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The moon looks wonderful in this warm evening light, just as a candle flame looks beautiful in the light of morning. Light within light...It seems to me to be a metaphor for the human soul, the singular light within that great general light of existence.
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There are worries that seem to me sustained by the love of worry. For example, that people are reading from screens, or listening to recorded books. Why scold the impulse to enjoy language and narrative in whatever form it takes?
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Teaching is a distraction and a burden, but it's also an incredible stimulus. And a reprieve, in a way. When you're trying to work on something and it's not going anywhere, you can go to school and there's a two-and-a-half-hour block of time in which you can accomplish something.
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