Sometimes legends make reality, and become more useful than the facts.
Interpretation
Legends can shape our understanding of reality, sometimes even surpassing factual truths in their impact.
This quote by Salman Rushdie suggests that legends and narratives can have a significant influence on our perception of reality, possibly providing guidance or a deeper understanding that strict facts may not convey. In essence, myths and stories can resonate more powerfully with us, leading to a profound effect on our beliefs and actions, making them indispensable despite their departure from factual accuracy.
In practice
During a discussion about the importance of storytelling in culture.
I've been fascinated by Machiavelli since I was very young. I've always felt that he had a bad rap from history, and that he was actually a person quite unlike what we now think of as Machiavellian. He was a republican. He disliked totalitarian government.
Killing people because you don't like their ideas - it's a bad thing.
faith without doubt is addiction
I am clearly vulnerable to these more passionate and volatile unstable relationships. I am trying to not be so vulnerable.
In India, as elsewhere in our darkening world, religion is the poison in the blood. Where religion intervenes, mere innocence is no excuse. Yet we go on skating around this issue, speaking of religion in the fashionable language of 'respect.' What is there to respect in any of this, or in any of the crimes now being committed almost daily around the world in religion's dreaded name?
Reality is a question of perspective; the further you get from the past, the more concrete and plausible it seems - but as you approach the present, it inevitably seems more and more incredible.
It is given to no human being to stereotype a set of truths, and walk safely by their guidance with his mind's eye closed.
The word religion comes from an origin which means "coming together." But priesthood has been doing just the opposite, it has created splits in man, not oneness. Religion means creating in man an organic unity; it has nothing to do with God, it has something to do with you. It has nothing to do with worship, it has something to do with a transformation of your own consciousness.
Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears: But yet It is our trick; nature her custom holds, Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, The woman will be out. β Adieu, my lord! I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, But that this folly drowns it.
You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.
If you don't see God in the next person you meet, look no further.
I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
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