No one's ever dared come out and say it before, but there's not a man among us that doesn't think it, that doesn't feel just as you do about her and the whole business - feel it somewhere down deep in his scared little soul.
Ken KeseyRead
But if the strength ain't real, I recall thinking the very last thing that day, before I finally passed out, then the weakness sure enough is. Weakness is true and real. I used to accuse the kid of faking his weakness. But faking proves the weakness is real. Or you wouldn't be so weak as to fake it. No, you can't ever fake being weak. You can only fake being strong. . .
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote discusses the nature of strength and weakness, emphasizing that true weakness cannot be faked, while strength can be a facade.
In this reflection, Ken Kesey explores the concept of emotional and mental strength versus weakness. He suggests that weakness is an authentic state that cannot be pretended, while strength may often be a disguise. The acknowledgment of one’s weakness is a courageous act, as it reveals vulnerability and honesty about human limitations. This understanding leads to a deeper appreciation for those who openly face their struggles, as it requires more bravery to admit weakness than to project an image of strength.
Themes
StrengthWeaknessCourageHonestyVulnerability
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about mental health, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of recognizing personal weaknesses.
More from Ken Kesey
All quotes →His whole body shakes with the strain as he tries to lift something he knows he can't lift, something everybody knows he can't lift. But, for just a second, when we hear the cement grind at our feet, we think, by golly, he might do it.
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You've got to get out and pray to the sky to appreciate the sunshine; otherwise you're just a lizard standing there with the sun shining on you.
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But I remember one thing:_x000D_ _x000D_ it wasn't me that started acting deaf;_x000D_ _x000D_ it was people that first started acting like_x000D_ _x000D_ I was too dumb to hear or see or say anything at all
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The job is to seek mystery, evoke mystery, plant a garden in which strange plants grow and mysteries bloom. The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.
Ken KeseyRead
If this glorious birth to death hassle is the only hassle we are ever to have ..if our grand exhilarating fight of life is such a tragically short little scrap anyway,compared to the eons of rounds before and after-then why should one want to relinquish even a few precious seconds of it?
Ken KeseyRead
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