I asked her to look at me and after a few moments - (pause) - after a few moments she did, but the eyes just slits, because of the glare I bent over her to get them in the shadow and they opened. (Pause. Low) Let me in.
Samuel BeckettRead
Yes, in my life, since we must call it so, there were three things, the inability to speak, the inability to be silent, and solitude, that’s what I’ve had to make the best of.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on life's challenges and the acceptance of solitude as a part of existence.
In this quote, Samuel Beckett explores the complexities of communication and solitude, suggesting that life is marked by various struggles, including the inability to express oneself and the struggle to remain silent when necessary. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of making the most out of solitude, indicating that it can be a space for reflection and personal growth despite its inherent challenges.
In practice
During a workshop on personal growth, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of embracing solitude.
I asked her to look at me and after a few moments - (pause) - after a few moments she did, but the eyes just slits, because of the glare I bent over her to get them in the shadow and they opened. (Pause. Low) Let me in.
Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.
I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.
And what I have, what I am, is enough, was always enough for me, and as far as my dear little sweet little future is concerned I have no qualms, I have a good time coming.
I love order. It's my dream. A world where all would be silent and still, and each thing in its last place, under the last dust.
We lose our hair, our teeth! Our bloom, our ideals.
Society cares for the individual only so far as he is profitable.
When a gift is difficult to give away, it becomes even more rare and precious, somehow gathering a part of the giver to the gift itself.
No matter how noble the objectives of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life, and breeds ill will and suspicion; it is an evil government.
Things we do not expect, happen more frequently than we wish.
Governments, whatever their pretensions otherwise, try to preserve themselves by holding the individual down ... Government itself, indeed, may be reasonably defined as a conspiracy against him. Its one permanent aim, whatever its form, is to hobble him sufficiently to maintain itself.
We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour.
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