“There is no insurmountable solitude. All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song - but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny.”
This quote by Pablo Neruda explores the profound journey of self-expression and human connection. It emphasizes that solitude, while challenging, is a necessary passage toward understanding ourselves and communicating our true essence to others.
Neruda begins by dismissing the idea of "insurmountable solitude," suggesting that no isolation is too great to overcome. The phrase "All paths lead to the same goal" highlights a universal human drive: to share who we are. This goal requires enduring "solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence," indicating that personal growth and authentic expression are born from introspection and struggle.
The imagery of "the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song" conveys the human condition—imperfect yet deeply meaningful expressions of our inner lives. These acts of dancing and singing symbolize vulnerability and creativity, essential for fulfilling "the most ancient rites of our conscience." This points to a collective spiritual or moral tradition that binds humanity.
Finally, Neruda’s reference to "the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny" underscores a hopeful message: through our individual journeys and expressions, we find solidarity and shared purpose. The quote celebrates solitude not as isolation, but as a transformative step toward connection and communal understanding.
“I have been a lucky man. To feel the intimacy of brothers is a marvelous thing in life. To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life. But to feel the affection that comes from those whom we do not know, from those unknown to us, who are watching over our sleep and solitude, over our dangers and our weaknesses – that is something still greater and more beautiful because it widens out the boundaries of our being, and unites all living things.”
“We must dream our way.”
“And our problems will crumble apart, the soul / blow through like a wind, and here where we livewill all be clean again, with fresh bread on the table.”
“On our earth, before writing was invented, before the printing press was invented, poetry flourished. That is why we know that poetry is like bread; it should be shared by all, by scholars and by peasants, by all our vast, incredible, extraordinary family of humanity.”
“How you must have suffered getting accustomed to me,my savage, solitary soul, my name that sends them all running.So many times we have seen the morning star burn, kissing our eyes,and over our heads the grey light unwinds in turning fans.”
“To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life.”