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Quote by Roland Barthes

“The heart is the organ of desire (the heart swells, weakens, etc., like the sexual organs), as it is held, enchanted, within the domain of the Image-repertoire. What will the world, what will the other do with my desire? That is the anxiety in which are gathered all the heart's movements, all the heart's 'problems.”

Quote by Roland Barthes

Work

A lover's discourse: fragments

This book is a compilation of essays that delve into the complexities of love, relationships, and human emotions. The author examines various aspects of love from a philosophical and literary perspective, offering insights into the intricacies of human connections. more

Author

Roland Barthes
Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes (November 12, 1915 – March 25, 1980) was a French philosopher, literary critic, semiotician, and sociologist. He was a leading figure in structuralism and post-structuralism, known for his profound insights into semiotics, cultural criticism, and literary theory. His works, such as Mythologies, S/Z, and The Death of the Author, challenged traditional notions of authorship and meaning, emphasizing the multiplicity of texts and the active role of readers. Barthes' interdisciplinary approach influenced cultural studies, media analysis, and postmodern thought, making him one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century. more

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“Dear Lord, I know my life’s not perfect, and I don’t expect it to be. I’ve prayed to you many times dear Lord, for many things. I’ve prayed for reason, very minimal in relation to what I really desire. I will sacrifice all that I am, and that I could be, and everything I’ve ever prayed for, if you’ll answer the only permanent prayer that rest heavy in every fiber in my body. Dear Lord, please wrap your arms around my children, who are now young adults, and allow them good health, peace and happiness for all there days. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

“I can never say what I want to say," continued Naoko. "It's been like this for a while now. I try to say something, but all I get are the wrong words – the wrong words or the exact opposite words from what I mean. I try to correct myself, and that only makes it worse. I lose track of what I was trying to say to begin with. It's like I'm split with two and playing tag with myself. One half is chasing the other half around this big, fat post. The other me has the right words, but this me can't catch her.”

“Most of them, I suspect, come to the mall not because there is something specific that they need to buy. Rather, they come in the hope that doing so will trigger a desire for something that, before going to the mall, they didn't want. It might be a desire for a cashmere sweater, a set of socket wrenches, or the latest cell phone. Why go out of their way to trigger desire? Because if they trigger one, they can enjoy the rush that comes when they extinguish that desire by buying its object. It is a rush, of course, that has little to do with their long-term happiness as taking a hit of heroin has to do with the long-term happiness of a heroin addict. My ability to form desires for consumer goods seems to have atrophied. What brought about this state of affairs? The profound realization, thanks to the practice of Stoicism, that requiring the things that those in my social circle typically crave and work hard to afford will, in the long run, make zero difference in how happy I am and will in no way contribute to my having a good life.”