Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Speak of a wolf and you see his tail!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that discussing someone can lead to their presence being felt or noticed.
This quote by Fyodor Dostoevsky conveys the idea that when we talk about someone or something, especially with intention, it often brings it into our awareness or presence, much like how mentioning a wolf may cause it to appear. It highlights the power of words and the influence of our thoughts and discussions on reality, implying that our focus can manifest in our experiences.
Themes
WolfPresenceWordsRealityFocus
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on the impact of negative thoughts, this quote can illustrate how naming our fears can empower them.
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Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
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But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!
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...to return to their 'native soil,' as they say, to the bosom, so to speak, of their mother earth, like frightened children, yearning to fall asleep on the withered bosom of their decrepit mother, and to sleep there for ever, only to escape the horrors that terrify them.
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