Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Jacqueline Harpman

Quote by Jacqueline Harpman

Work

I Who Have Never Known Men

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Jacqueline Harpman

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Jacqueline Harpman. more

You May Also Like

“In life, humans are propelled by uncertainty—by the ignorance and blindness of what lies ahead. We cling to the hope that our paths will eventually intersect with the dreams we dare to dream, or perhaps only a few of them. Yet, we often overlook the sobering truth that none of our dreams may come true. The likelihood of our dreams being fulfilled is no greater than the likelihood of them remaining elusive. Of course, this notion only holds if we disregard the countless variables that shape our journey: our work, our passion, our time, and countless other forces we exert upon the world. But if we were to abandon these factors, what would remain? Would a life lived without purpose, without the striving, carry us higher than the dreams we had for ourselves? Perhaps our dreams are not the stars we aim for, but rather limits we impose upon our potential, boundaries we dare not cross. Yet we can never truly know, for one cannot live without the presence of purpose. It is purpose that grants meaning, that enables us to sleep at night and rise each morning. Purpose is the very embodiment of the human journey. It is the compass that guides us through triumphs and trials, that molds our identities, and fosters a fleeting sense of fulfillment. And yet, this fulfillment is ephemeral, as transient as everything else in this world. Our purpose may, in time, lead us astray—toward a misperception of ourselves, a false image of reality, or a gnawing sense of emptiness. Ultimately, it is not purpose or dreams that drive us. It is uncertainty. It is the unpredictable, the unknown, that propels us forward. We live not to reach a particular destination, but to witness the unfolding of what may come. It is, perhaps, the greatest absurdity: that meaning can be found only where no meaning lies.”

PhilosophyCertainDeepThinkUncertain
Author:Raed
Create image

“I remembered the moment I read a novel for the first time. The texture of the soft paper touching my fingertips. The black letters blooming on a white field. The texture of the page I folded with my hands. 「 It isn't important to read the letters. The important thing is where the letters lead you. 」 My mother, who loved books, used to say this. At least for me, it wasn't just a saying. The gaps in the black print. My own little snow garden lay in between the letters. This space, which was too small for someone to go into, was a perfect place for a child who liked to hide. Every time a pleasant sound was heard, the letters stacked up like snow. In it, I became a hero. I had adventures, loved and dreamt. Thus, I read, read and read again. I remembered the first time I was about to finish a book. It was like being deprived of the world. The protagonist and supporting characters walked off with the sentence 'They lived happily ever after' and I was left alone at the end of the story. In my vanity and sense of betrayal, my young self struggled because I couldn't stand the loneliness. 「 This… is the end? 」 Perhaps it was similar to learning about death. For the first time, I realized that something was finite. My mother said, 「This is the end. 」 「There isn't anything that comes next? 」 「There is no 'next'. 」 My mother was cold as she told me a brutal truth. 「 However, just because it is the end doesn't mean you've seen the whole story. 」 Then she gave me wise advice. 「 Yes? 」 「 Read it again. 」 Reread the finished story. As a child, I didn't know what this meant. 「 Why read a story I already know? 」 「 If you read it again, it will definitely be a different story. 」 「…I don't want to. 」 I was stubborn because I was afraid of feeling the deprivation again. Then my mother said, 「 Do you want to read it together? 」 Thus, I learnt to read again. At first, I only saw the main character's position. The second reading showed the position of the supporting character and the third reading showed the position of the enemy. The story changed every time I read it. The story was over but it wasn't over. The story wouldn't end unless the reader gave up on the story. I still thought about it often. What if my mother had said something else at that time? All fiction was fake and it would just be a loss of my life if I read it. Would I then have a lot of friends? What if I didn't study hard, wasn't bullied and didn't run away from the reality given to me? Sparks appeared in the air and the flowing memories were broken. 「 Kim Dokja. You look relaxed. 」”

InspirationalDeepOrvSingshongSingnsongShing ShongShingshongSing Shong
Author:Sing shong (싱숑)
Create image