Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
Madame De StaelRead
Wit consists in knowing the resemblance of things that differ, and the difference of things that are alike.
Interpretation
Wit involves understanding nuances between similar and different concepts.
This quote by Madame De Stael emphasizes the intellectual skill of wit, which is the ability to discern similarities between disparate things and differences among similar ones. Such understanding allows for deeper insights and clever humor, revealing layers of meaning that are often overlooked.
In practice
In a speech about creativity, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of perception in innovative thinking.
Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
When at eve, at the bounding of the landscape, the heavens appear to recline so slowly on the earth, imagination pictures beyond the horizon an asylum of hope, - a native land of love; and nature seems silently to repeat that man is immortal.
The more we know the better we forgive. Whoever feels deeply, feels for all who live.
Intellect does not attain its full force unless it attacks power.
The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress in spirals.
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
I hoped my absence made them happy or at least made them forget that they weren't happy and never will be.
See the opportunity in the misstep.
By Allah, whenever I endure any adversity I gain four blessings of Allah in exchange. The first of them is, when the adversity is not caused by my sin (virtue is earned). The second, when the adversity is not greater than my sin (virtue is earned). The third, when I am not deprived of contentment (virtue is earned). And the fourth, I hope for virtues thereby.
I am tired of talk that comes to nothing It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. It does not require many words to speak the truth.
It is not fit that every man should travel; it makes a wise man better, and a fool worse.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.