“Think of nothing things, think of wind.”
Truman Capote’s quote, “Think of nothing things, think of wind,” invites us to engage with the ephemeral and often overlooked aspects of our existence. Here are some examples of how this perspective can be applied in various contexts:
Creative Writing: When crafting poetry, consider focusing on the subtle elements of nature. For example, “The wind whispered secrets through the trees, carrying tales of nothingness, yet holding everything.” This mirrors Capote’s call to think of the intangible.
Mindfulness Practice: During meditation, encourage visualization of the wind as a metaphor for thoughts. “Breathe in deeply, allowing your thoughts to drift away like leaves caught in the wind, recognizing the beauty in their transience.”
Art Interpretation: In visual arts, one might explore abstract representations of the wind. “A canvas filled with swirling colors that mimic the movement of air—the brush strokes suggesting the presence of something unseen yet profoundly felt.”
Philosophical Discussion: In conversations about existence, one might say, “As Capote reminds us, sometimes the most profound reflections come from considering what is not there—like the wind that we feel but cannot see.”
Personal Reflection: When journaling, reflect on moments when you felt connected to the ‘nothing things.’ “Today, I stood still and felt the wind on my face—a reminder that life's essential truths often come from those fleeting, undefined moments.”
These instances demonstrate how Capote's words can inspire a deeper contemplation of life’s intangible elements, inviting us to appreciate the subtle currents that shape our experiences.
“think of nothing thingsthink of wind”
“Did you ever, in that wonderland wilderness of adolesence [sic] ever, quite unexpectedly, see something, a dusk sky, a wild bird, a landscape, so exquisite terror touched you at the bone? And you are afraid, terribly afraid the smallest movement, a leaf, say, turning in the wind, will shatter all? That is, I think, the way love is, or should be: one lives in beautiful terror.”
“Flannery O'Connor had a certain genius. I don't think John Updike has, or Norman Mailer or William Styron, all of whom are talented, but they don't exceed themselves in any way. Norman Mailer thinks William Burroughs is a genius, which I think is ludicrous beyond words. I don't think William Burroughs has an ounce of talent.”
“Then starting home, he walked toward the trees, and under them, leaving behind him the big sky, the whisper of wind voices in the wind-bent wheat.”
“Young men think old men are fools; but old men know young men are fools.”
“Sometimes when I think how good my book can be, I can hardly breathe.”