They do not need the sun. Who needs the sun when the eyes glow? Darkness. A woolen fog has wrapped the earth, has dropped a heavy curtain. From far away, from beyond the curtain, comes the sound of drops falling on stone. Far, far away - the autumn, people, tomorrow. ("The North")
Interpretation
The quote suggests that natural light is not essential for beauty or existence, as perception and emotion can still thrive in darkness.
In this quote, Zamyatin explores the idea that the essence of life and experience can transcend the physical needs typically associated with light and visibility. The imagery of darkness and the glowing eyes implies an inner light or understanding that persists despite external conditions. It reflects on how emotions and perceptions can illuminate our understanding of the world, even when faced with challenges or obstacles.
In practice
This quote can be used in a discussion about overcoming challenges in life.
The knife is the most durable, immortal, the most genius thing that man created. The knife was the guillotine; the knife is the universal means of solving all knots; and along the blade of a knife lies the path of paradox - the single most worthy path of the fearless mind.
Accentuated plainness and accentuated vice ought to bring about harmony. Beauty lies in harmony, in style, whether it be the harmony of ugliness or beauty, vice or virtue.
The world is kept alive only by heretics: the heretic Christ, the heretic Copernicus, the heretic Tolstoy. Our symbol of faith is heresy...
The lilac branches are bowed under the weight of the flowers: blooming is hard, and the most important thing is - to bloom. (βA Story About The Most Important Thingβ)
A man is like a novel: until the very last page you don't know how it will end. Otherwise it wouldn't be worth reading.
Knowledge, absolutely sure of its infallibility, is faith.
We have built a thousand temples to Fortune and not one to Reason
The abdomen is the reason why man does not readily take himself to be a god.
But when one believes in the reality of things, making them visible by artificial means is not quite the same as feeling that they are close at hand.
I never took hallucinogenic drugs because I never wanted my consciousness expanded one unnecessary iota.
If princes and kings could follow it (Tao), all things would by themselves abide, Heaven and Earth would unite and sweet dew would fall. People would by themselves find harmony, without being commanded.
If you don't have the smoking gun, then it's pointless to hector interviewees. Because you just shut people up instead of opening them up.
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