But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?
Patrick RothfussRead
Using words to talk of words is like using a pencil to draw a picture of itself, on itself. Impossible. Confusing. Frustrating ... but there are other ways to understanding.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the limits of language in conveying meaning, suggesting that some concepts are beyond verbal explanation.
Patrick Rothfuss's quote illustrates the challenges of using language to describe itself, akin to an object trying to depict its own essence. The analogy highlights the inherent limitations and frustrations of relying solely on words for understanding, while hinting at alternative methods of grasping deeper truths, such as experience or intuition.
Themes
LanguageUnderstandingCommunicationWordsPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the limitations of language in conveying emotions.
More from Patrick Rothfuss
All quotes βI wanted to tell her that she was the first beautiful thing I had seen in three years. That the sight of her yawning to the back of her hand was enough to drive the breath from me. How I sometimes lost the sense of her words in the sweet fluting of her voice. I wanted to say that if she were with me then somehow nothing could ever be wrong for me again.
Patrick RothfussRead
Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts. There are seven words that will make a person love you. There are ten words that will break a strong man's will. But a word is nothing but a painting of a fire. A name is the fire itself.
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How odd to watch a mortal kindle / Then to dwindle day by day / Knowing their bright souls are tinder / And the wind will have its way
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All the truth in the world is held in stories.
Patrick RothfussRead
Music is a proud, temperamental mistress. Give her the time and attention she deserves, and she is yours. Slight her and there will come a day when you call and she will not answer. So I began sleeping less to give her the time she needed.
Patrick RothfussRead
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