Quote: The present

Source: Deanery Furniture

I looked anxiously around me: the present, nothing but the present. Furniture light and solid, rooted in its present, a table, a bed, a closet with a mirror—and me. The true nature of the present revealed itself: it was what exists, and all that was not present did not exist. The past did not exist. Not at all. Not in things, not even in my thoughts. It is true that I had realized a long time ago that mine had escaped me. But until then I had believed that it had simply gone out of my range. For me the past was only a pensioning off: it was another way of existing, a state of vacation and inaction; each event, when it had played its part, put itself politely into a box and became an honorary event: we have so much difficulty imagining nothingness. Now I knew: things are entirely what they appear to be—and behind them... there is nothing.

~ Jean-Paul Sartre

Quote: The present

Source: Deanery Furniture

I looked anxiously around me: the present, nothing but the present. Furniture light and solid, rooted in its present, a table, a bed, a closet with a mirror—and me. The true nature of the present revealed itself: it was what exists, and all that was not present did not exist. The past did not exist. Not at all. Not in things, not even in my thoughts. It is true that I had realized a long time ago that mine had escaped me. But until then I had believed that it had simply gone out of my range. For me the past was only a pensioning off: it was another way of existing, a state of vacation and inaction; each event, when it had played its part, put itself politely into a box and became an honorary event: we have so much difficulty imagining nothingness. Now I knew: things are entirely what they appear to be—and behind them... there is nothing.

~ Jean-Paul Sartre

Quote: Existence

Source: PicMonkey/Favim 

I stick my finger in existence — it smells of nothing. Where am I? Who am I? How came I here? What is this thing called the world? What does this world mean? Who is it that has lured me into the world? Why was I not consulted, why not made acquainted with its manners and customs instead of throwing me into the ranks, as if I had been bought by a kidnapper, a dealer in souls? How did I obtain an interest in this big enterprise they call reality? Why should I have an interest in it? Is it not a voluntary concern? And if I am to be compelled to take part in it, where is the director? I should like to make a remark to him. Is there no director? Whither shall I turn with my complaint?

~ Søren Kierkegaard

Quote: Existence

Source: PicMonkey/Favim 

I stick my finger in existence — it smells of nothing. Where am I? Who am I? How came I here? What is this thing called the world? What does this world mean? Who is it that has lured me into the world? Why was I not consulted, why not made acquainted with its manners and customs instead of throwing me into the ranks, as if I had been bought by a kidnapper, a dealer in souls? How did I obtain an interest in this big enterprise they call reality? Why should I have an interest in it? Is it not a voluntary concern? And if I am to be compelled to take part in it, where is the director? I should like to make a remark to him. Is there no director? Whither shall I turn with my complaint?

~ Søren Kierkegaard

The God-Haunted

Source: baobab.com

Truth is like a baobab tree; one person’s arms cannot embrace it. ~ African proverb

In the year after the towers fell, I envisioned the Lord seated upon his throne
       on an African horizon.

Spine straight, hands draped over the throne’s stone arms, he sat poised
       on the world’s edge—a 60-watt bulb the height of a mountain—
       as my mind worked like an acorn to resorb a thousand-year-old oak.

No robe filled the savannah speckled with granite boulders and thorn scrubs,
       but two baobabs raised bare, crooked limbs like wings
       unable to cover their turgid bodies.

Two myths: the devil plucked the baobab,
       thrust it roots up, crown in the ground without reason;
       the baobab, envious of the palm’s height, the fire tree’s red flower,
       the fig’s fruit, asked God for all three. God responded like the devil,
       only with reasons.

In existence, God is amputation. We come to live with towering pains
       of something that was, but isn’t. We come to live severed
       of fingers to enlace, hands to take, arms to interlock.

~ J. D. Hughes

The God-Haunted

Source: baobab.com

Truth is like a baobab tree; one person’s arms cannot embrace it. ~ African proverb

In the year after the towers fell, I envisioned the Lord seated upon his throne
       on an African horizon.

Spine straight, hands draped over the throne’s stone arms, he sat poised
       on the world’s edge—a 60-watt bulb the height of a mountain—
       as my mind worked like an acorn to resorb a thousand-year-old oak.

No robe filled the savannah speckled with granite boulders and thorn scrubs,
       but two baobabs raised bare, crooked limbs like wings
       unable to cover their turgid bodies.

Two myths: the devil plucked the baobab,
       thrust it roots up, crown in the ground without reason;
       the baobab, envious of the palm’s height, the fire tree’s red flower,
       the fig’s fruit, asked God for all three. God responded like the devil,
       only with reasons.

In existence, God is amputation. We come to live with towering pains
       of something that was, but isn’t. We come to live severed
       of fingers to enlace, hands to take, arms to interlock.

~ J. D. Hughes

The Answer

Credit: BBoomerinDenial @ morguefile.com

Debasement is the password of the base,
Nobility the epitaph of the noble.
See how the gilded sky is covered
With the drifting twisted shadows of the dead.

The Ice Age is over now,
Why is there ice everywhere?
The Cape of Good Hope has been discovered,
Why do a thousand sails contest the Dead Sea?

I came into this world
Bringing only paper, rope, a shadow,
To proclaim before the judgment
The voice that has been judged:

Let me tell you, world,
I—do—not—believe!
If a thousand challengers lie beneath your feet,
Count me as number thousand and one.

I don't believe the sky is blue;
I don't believe in thunder's echoes;
I don't believe that dreams are false;
I don't believe that death has no revenge.

If the sea is destined to breach the dikes
Let all the brackish water pour into my heart;
If the land is destined to rise
Let humanity choose a peak for existence again.

A new conjunction and glimmering stars
Adorn the unobstructed sky now;
They are the pictographs from five thousand years.
They are the watchful eyes of future generations.

~ Bei Dao

The Answer

Credit: BBoomerinDenial @ morguefile.com

Debasement is the password of the base,
Nobility the epitaph of the noble.
See how the gilded sky is covered
With the drifting twisted shadows of the dead.

The Ice Age is over now,
Why is there ice everywhere?
The Cape of Good Hope has been discovered,
Why do a thousand sails contest the Dead Sea?

I came into this world
Bringing only paper, rope, a shadow,
To proclaim before the judgment
The voice that has been judged:

Let me tell you, world,
I—do—not—believe!
If a thousand challengers lie beneath your feet,
Count me as number thousand and one.

I don't believe the sky is blue;
I don't believe in thunder's echoes;
I don't believe that dreams are false;
I don't believe that death has no revenge.

If the sea is destined to breach the dikes
Let all the brackish water pour into my heart;
If the land is destined to rise
Let humanity choose a peak for existence again.

A new conjunction and glimmering stars
Adorn the unobstructed sky now;
They are the pictographs from five thousand years.
They are the watchful eyes of future generations.

~ Bei Dao

Quote on existence

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I exist, I am, I am here, I am becoming, I make my own life and no one else makes it for me. I must face my own shortcomings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do, but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide to leave my bed and live again. And if I fail, I don't have the comfort of blaming you or life or God.

~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Quote on existence

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I exist, I am, I am here, I am becoming, I make my own life and no one else makes it for me. I must face my own shortcomings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do, but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide to leave my bed and live again. And if I fail, I don't have the comfort of blaming you or life or God.

~ Leo F. Buscaglia