“Oh, how one wishes sometimes to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence, from all those sublime phrases, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labor, of sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!”
In this quote, Boris Pasternak expresses his desire to break free from the artificial, empty language of human communication. He longs to find solace in the simplicity and authenticity of nature, hard work, deep sleep, genuine music, and profound emotions that leave us speechless. This sentiment reveals a yearning for genuine connection and meaning amidst a world cluttered with superficiality and pretense.
In today's fast-paced and noisy world, Boris Pasternak's words still hold true. With the constant bombardment of information and distractions from technology and social media, many of us find ourselves craving moments of silence and connection with nature. The need to escape from the chatter of human eloquence remains ever present, as we seek solace in the simplicity and beauty of the world around us. Whether it be through moments of quiet reflection, engaging in meaningful work, or immersing ourselves in the transformative power of music, finding respite from the noise of everyday life has become increasingly relevant in the modern world.
“Oh, how one wishes sometimes to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence, from all those sublime phrases, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labor, of sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!” - Boris Pasternak
In this quote by Boris Pasternak, the idea of seeking refuge in nature or in moments of wordlessness is explored. This prompts us to consider our own experiences and how we find solace or escape from the noise and chaos of everyday life. Here are some reflection questions to ponder:
“How intense can be the longing to escape from the emptiness and dullness of human verbosity, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labour, of sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!”
“I consider books to be good for our health, and also our spirits, and they help us to become poets or scientists, to understand the stars or else to discover them deep within the aspirations of certain characters, those who sometimes, on certain evenings, escape from the pages and walk among us humans, perhaps the most human of us all.”
“Sometimes one feels rage and despair that one should know so little the people one loves. one is heartbroken at the impossibility of understanding them, of getting right down into their hearts . sometimes, accidentally or under the influence of some emotion, one gets a glimpse of some emotion , one gets a glimpse of those inner selves , and one despairs how ignorant one is of that inner self and how far away one is from it.”
“Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotion know what it means to want to escape from these.”
“Anybody's true nature is bullshit. There is no human soul. Emotion is bullshit. Love is bullshit.”