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There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says 'Morning, boys. How's the water?' And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes 'What the hell is water?'
David Foster Wallace
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the idea that we often overlook the fundamental aspects of our existence.

David Foster Wallace's quote uses the metaphor of fish in water to illustrate how we can be oblivious to the most fundamental aspects of our lives. The elder fish's question provokes the younger fish to realize that they are surrounded by something that they take for granted—water, which represents the environment and circumstances we often overlook. This serves as a powerful reminder to be aware of the 'water' around us in our daily lives, urging us to recognize and reflect on the context in which we live.

Themes

AwarenessLifePerceptionExistenceMetaphor

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about mindfulness, one might use the quote to emphasize the need for self-awareness.

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