The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.
Jean CocteauRead
You've never seen death? Look in the mirror every day and you will see it like bees working in a glass hive.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that self-reflection reveals the inevitability of death, akin to observing the work of bees in a hive.
In this quote, Jean Cocteau emphasizes that the contemplation of our mortality is a daily reality that can be observed through self-reflection. He likens this introspection to watching bees in a glass hive, implying that just as the bees are busy with life, our awareness of death is ever-present, urging us to acknowledge the profound truth of our existence and the passage of time.
Themes
DeathSelf-ReflectionMortalityExistenceLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical discussion on the nature of existence, you could use this quote to illustrate the importance of recognizing our mortality.
More from Jean Cocteau
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All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.
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Listen carefully to first criticisms made of your work. Note just what it is about your work that critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the only part of your work that's individual and worth keeping.
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Watch yourself all your life in a mirror and you'll see Death at work like bees in a glass hive.
Jean CocteauRead
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I was talking to a Zen master the other day and he said, "You shall be my disciple."I looked at him and said, "Who was Buddha's teacher?" He looked at me in a very odd way for a moment and then he burst into laughter and handed me a piece of clover.
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To use words to sense reality is like going with a lamp to search for darkness.
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