Quotations

Louise Bourgeois on trust and love

You are born alone. You die alone. The value of the space in between is trust and love.

Franz Kafka on reality

Reality is never and nowhere more accessible than in the immediate moment of one’s own life. It’s only there that it can be won or lost.

Recommended reading: Franz Kafka: The Complete Stories.

E.E. Cummings on emotions

Anybody can learn to think, or believe, or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel…the moment you feel, you’re nobody but yourself.

Recommended reading: E. E. Cummings: Complete Poems, 1904-1962.

Jim Morrison on pain

People are afraid of themselves, of their own reality; their feelings most of all. People talk about how great love is, but that’s bullsh*t. Love hurts. Feelings are disturbing. People are taught that pain is evil and dangerous. How can they deal with love if they’re afraid to feel? Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they’re wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio. You feel your strength in the experience of pain. It’s all in how you carry it. That’s what matters. Pain is a feeling. Your feelings are a part of you. Your own reality. If you feel ashamed of them, and hide them, you’re letting society destroy your reality. You should stand up for your right to feel your pain.

Recommended reading: Wilderness: The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison, Volume 1.