“I have on my table a violin string. It is free to move in any direction I like. If I twist one end, it responds; it is free.But it is not free to sing. So I take it and fix it into my violin. I bind it and when it is bound, it is free for the first time to sing.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote by Rabindranath Tagore
In this quote, Rabindranath Tagore uses the metaphor of a violin string to illustrate the concept of freedom. He explains that true freedom isn't about being completely unrestrained, but rather about finding the right constraints that allow one to truly express themselves. Just like a violin string is bound to the instrument in order to produce beautiful music, humans must sometimes embrace certain limitations in order to reach their full potential and achieve true freedom. This quote serves as a reminder that constraints can sometimes be the pathway to liberation and self-expression.
The Power of Constraints in Unlocking Creativity
Rabindranath Tagore's words remind us of the paradoxical nature of creativity - that sometimes it is the constraints we face that actually liberate our abilities. In a world filled with endless choices and distractions, it is often limitations that force us to focus, innovate, and truly excel. Just like the violin string that needs to be bound to unleash its full potential, we too may need to embrace constraints in order to find our own creative voice.
Example of Usage
Rabindranath Tagore beautifully conveys the concept of freedom through his analogy of a violin string in his quote. He suggests that true freedom comes not from being unrestrained, but from being bound and connected to a purpose.
Reflection Questions
The quote by Rabindranath Tagore metaphorically compares the freedom of a violin string to our own lives. Reflect on the following questions to explore the deeper meanings behind this analogy:
In what ways do you feel bound or restricted in your own life? How can these constraints actually lead to greater freedom or creativity?
Consider a time when you were initially resistant to a change or limitation, but ultimately found it to be liberating. What did you learn from this experience?
How can you apply the concept of being "bound to sing" to your own personal growth or creative endeavors? What steps can you take to embrace constraints as opportunities for growth and self-expression?
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“I have spent many days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung.”
“The song I came to sing remains unsung to this day. I have spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my instrument. The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set; only there is the agony of wishing in my heart . . .”
“WHEN I GO ALONE AT NIGHTWHEN I go alone at night to my love-tryst, birds do not sing, the wind does not stir, the houses on both sides of the street stand silent.It is my own anklets that grow loud at every step and I am ashamed. When I sit on my balcony and listen for his footsteps, leaves do not rustle on the trees, and the water is still in the river like the sword on the knees of a sentry fallen asleep.It is my own heart that beats wildly -- I do not know how to quiet it. When my love comes and sits by my side, when my body trembles and my eyelids droop, the night darkens, the wind blows out the lamp, and the clouds draw veils over the stars.It is the jewel at my own breast that shines and gives light. I do not know how to hide it.”
“Some day I shall sing to thee in the sunrise of some other world, I have seen thee before in the light of the earth, in the love of man.”
“When I go from hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable. I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on the ocean of light, and thus I am blessed—let this be my parting word. In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play and here have I caught sight of him who is formless. My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come—let this be my parting word.”