Tag: Writers

Learning, Life lessons, Philosophy, Quotes

Life is short? | Here is what Seneca and Steve Jobs would reply | Art of Saudade

If I had a dollar every time I heard the phrase “Life is short”, I’d be a billionaire. How much time have we spent complaining about life being too short instead of being grateful for the time we actually have? The Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca invites you to think for a minute. Is life really that short? “It is not that we have a short … Continue reading Life is short? | Here is what Seneca and Steve Jobs would reply | Art of Saudade

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Learning, Literature, Quotes

Why Storytelling Matters | Toni Morrison’s Lesson on Writing | Art of Saudade

Today we celebrate the birth of a legend, a superwoman, a fighter and a Nobel laureate. Did you know that Toni Morrison wrote her first novel, getting up every morning at 4 am to write, while raising two children on her own?  She described her first work, The Bluest Eye, as “history, sociology, folklore, nightmare and music”, depicting the dark side of humanity through the … Continue reading Why Storytelling Matters | Toni Morrison’s Lesson on Writing | Art of Saudade

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Life lessons, Philosophy, Quotes

THE CORRUPTION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOVE (Happy Valentine’s Day) ♥

Love isn’t something natural, argues the psychoanalyst Eric Fromm in his book The Art of Loving. Rather, it requires discipline, concentration, patience, faith, and overcoming narcissism. It isn’t a feeling, it is a practice. Love, therefore, is considered a rare achievement. Modern humans are alienated from each other and from nature, and the only rational answer to overcome loneliness is love. The main condition for … Continue reading THE CORRUPTION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF LOVE (Happy Valentine’s Day) ♥

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Literature, Quotes

A Brief History of Surrealism: From André Breton to Frida Kahlo | Art of Saudade

Surrealism as a cultural, literary, and artistic movement emerged in the aftermath of World War I when artists would not only dream of a better world, but they would try to create it.  Among the major figures of Surrealism were the writers André Breton, Robert Desnos, Paul Éluard, Louis Aragon, and the painters Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst and René Magritte. André Breton, the Father of … Continue reading A Brief History of Surrealism: From André Breton to Frida Kahlo | Art of Saudade

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Animals, Culture, Life lessons, Literature, Philosophy

The Year of The Tiger: What Richard Parker Can Teach Us About Life | Art of Saudade

February 1 marks the start of the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Traditionally, the tiger has always been the symbol of bravery, wisdom, and strength.  You all know the story of a young Indian boy named Pi, stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a 450-pound Bengal tiger. In his philosophical novel Life of Pi, which was later … Continue reading The Year of The Tiger: What Richard Parker Can Teach Us About Life | Art of Saudade

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Life lessons, Literature, Philosophy, Quotes

Perfect Imperfection: George Orwell’s Thoughts On Searching For The Impossible

“The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of loyalty, that one does not push asceticism to the point where it makes friendly intercourse impossible, and that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one’s love … Continue reading Perfect Imperfection: George Orwell’s Thoughts On Searching For The Impossible

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Life lessons, Literature, Philosophy, Poetry, Quotes

Emily Dickinson’s Lesson On The Real Value Of Things | Art of Saudade

“Water, is taught by thirst. Land — by the Oceans passed. Transport — by throe — Peace — by its battles told — Love, by Memorial Mold — Birds, by the Snow.“ – Emily Dickinson We only learn the real value of things when we lose them. Only when we are thirsty can we truly appreciate Water. People who survive a shipwreck get to know … Continue reading Emily Dickinson’s Lesson On The Real Value Of Things | Art of Saudade

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Learning, Life lessons, Philosophy, Quotes

Beckett’s Art of Failure: Fail again. Fail better | Art of Saudade

You know that frustrating feeling when you try your best but you don’t succeed? When you get what you want, but not what you need? Alright, I’ll stop quoting Chris Martin. But we’ve all been through this, right? There are high chances that you’re going through it right now. Social pressure, expectations versus reality, dreams taking time to manifest… These are hard times for dreamers. … Continue reading Beckett’s Art of Failure: Fail again. Fail better | Art of Saudade

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Creative writing, Culture, Life lessons, Literature, Philosophy, Quotes

Dragons and Princesses: Rilke’s ideas of beauty and courage

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet (1929) In his Letters to a Young Poet, the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke transforms our traditional idea … Continue reading Dragons and Princesses: Rilke’s ideas of beauty and courage

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Languages, Literature, Poetry, Quotes, Translation

Rumi: Lost in translation

I believe in love at first read. Rumi’s poems always felt like a healing balm to my soul. I remember the day I realized I couldn’t rely on English translations of Rumi’s works. I was like Rumi in this picture. We know that no translation can ever replace the original and we are unfortunately unable to learn all the languages in the world. Many literary … Continue reading Rumi: Lost in translation

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