When I was young, a teacher had forbidden me to say "more perfect" because she said if a thing is perfect it can't be more so. But by now I had seen enough of life to have regained my confidence in it.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the understanding that perfection can be subjective and can exist on a spectrum, allowing for growth and confidence in life's experiences.
Norman Maclean's quote highlights the evolution of thought that occurs when one experiences life. Initially, the narrator learned from a teacher that perfection is absolute and cannot be exceeded, but with age and experience, they have come to understand that life often defies such absolutes. This realization allows for a more nuanced view of perfection, suggesting that it can be embraced while still striving for deeper appreciation and understanding.
In practice
In a graduation speech, one might reference this quote to encourage students to embrace the imperfect nature of life.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.
Ahead and to the west was our ranger station - and the mountains of Idaho, poems of geology stretching beyond any boundaries and seemingly even beyond the world.
Poets talk about "spots of time", but it is really the fishermen who experience eternity compressed into a moment. No one can tell what a spot of time is until suddenly the whole world is a fish and the fish is gone.
As I get considerably beyond the biblical allotment of three score years and ten, I feel with increasing intensity that I can express my gratitude for still being around on the oxygen-side of the earth's crust only by not standing pat on what I have hitherto known and loved. While oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love.
At sunrise everything is luminous but not clear. It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us. You can love completely without complete understanding.
One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful even if it is only a floating ash.
A compassionate heart still feels anger, greed, jealousy, and other such emotions. But it accepts them for what they are with equanimity, and cultivates the strength of mind to let them arise and pass without identifying with or acting upon them.
Take it from Richard, poor and lame, What's begun in anger ends in shame.
Enlightenment for a wave is the moment the wave realizes it is water. At that moment, all fear of death disappears.
Why is it that although it takes us years to get into our messes, we expect God to get us out of them in a few days?
Repentance and desires after holiness never be separated.
I think 90% of my ideas evaporate because I have a terrible memory and because I seem to be committed to not scribble anything down. As soon as I write it down, my mind rejects it.
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