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Publication is to thinking as childbirth is to the first kiss.
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote compares the act of sharing thoughts to the profound experience of childbirth, suggesting that true expression is a significant and transformative process.

Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel's quote draws a parallel between the act of publication, which allows thoughts to reach an audience, and childbirth, a profound and altering experience. Just as childbirth is a culmination of nurturing, love, and pain that leads to new life, publication represents a significant moment where one's thoughts are born into the world, marking a transition from inner contemplation to public engagement. Both processes involve vulnerability, creativity, and the hope of connection, underscoring that true expression requires not only effort but also the courage to share one's innermost ideas with others.

Themes

PublicationThinkingExpressionCreativityTransformation

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech on the importance of sharing our ideas, one might say this quote to emphasize the value of publication.

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