“Sit still with me in the shade of these green trees, which have no weightier thought than the withering of their leaves when autumn arrives, or the stretching of their many stiff fingers into the cold sky of the passing winter. Sit still with me and meditate on how useless effort is, how alien the will, and on how our very meditation is no more useful than effort, and no more our own than the will. Meditate too on how a life that wants nothing can have no weight in the flux of things, but a life the wants everything can likewise have no weight in the flux of things, since it cannot obtain everything, and to obtain less than everything is not worthy of souls that seek the truth.”
Example of Usage
In this quote from Fernando Pessoa, the speaker invites the reader to contemplate the futility of effort and desire, urging them to embrace a state of contentment and stillness. The words evoke a sense of philosophical reflection on the transient nature of life and the pursuit of ultimate truths.
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Fernando Pessoa, the speaker encourages the reader to embrace a state of stillness and contemplation amidst the ever-changing nature of life. The imagery of sitting under green trees highlights the simplicity and tranquility of nature, which contrasts with the complexity and futility of human effort and desire. The speaker suggests that both striving for everything and wanting nothing ultimately lead to a sense of insignificance in the grand scheme of existence. By urging the reader to meditate on the nature of effort, will, and desire, Pessoa provokes reflection on the paradoxical nature of human aspirations and the ephemeral quality of life's pursuits.
Modern Relevance of Fernando Pessoa's Meditative Reflection
Fernando Pessoa's meditative reflection encourages us to embrace the idea of letting go of the need for control and desires in life. In our modern society, where the constant pursuit of success and material possessions can often lead to stress and discontentment, Pessoa's words remind us of the importance of finding peace and contentment in simplicity and acceptance. Let's explore how this idea of releasing the need for control and desires can still hold relevance in today's fast-paced world.
Reflection Questions
When contemplating this passage by Fernando Pessoa, consider the following questions:
- How does the idea of sitting still in the shade of trees with no weightier thought resonate with you? Have you experienced moments of stillness and contemplation like this in your own life?
- Reflect on the concept of effort and will being deemed alien and useless in the grand scheme of things. How does this perspective challenge your beliefs about striving and achieving in life?
- In what ways does the idea of a life that wants nothing or a life that wants everything resonate with you personally? How do these contrasting desires impact the way you navigate through life?
- Consider the notion that meditation itself may be just as futile as effort or will. How does this idea challenge your understanding of introspection and self-reflection?
- Reflect on how the pursuit of truth is portrayed in this passage. Do you believe that seeking truth is a worthy endeavor, even if it may ultimately be unattainable?
Similar quotes
“A tree's shade is worth more than the knowledge of truth, my sons, for a tree's shade is true while it lasts, and the knowledge of truth is false in its very truth. The leaves' greenness is worth more, for a right understanding, than a great thought, for the leaves, greenness is something you can show others, but you can never show them a great thought. We are born without knowing how to talk and we die without having known how to express ourselves. Our life runs its course between the silence of one who cannot speak and the silence of one who wasn't understood, and around it hovers — like a bee where there are no flowers — a useless, inscrutable destiny.”
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