Even better if you can provide your own understanding of its meaning.
Mine would be :
“Nothing kills a man as much as being forced to represent a country” (and err considering the context, I must stress it has nothing to do with the current US shitshow), by a WW1 soldier, illustrator and writer named Jacques Vaché.
For me it just means being forced into representing a group (national, of course, but maybe also social, racial, sexual, professional, any kind of group) or defining one’s identity only by reference to a group is to be avoided at all costs.
Note : Its not the same, imho, as engaging in a collective struggle or defense against a common oppression.
How about you?
I don’t necessarily think it’s underrated because it’s the underpinning of a major religion, but;
Existence is suffering.
The first noble truth of Buddhism that I don’t think enough people really grasp.
On first read, those three words sound like an angsty teen being all sad, but a deeper exploration tells us that to expect a life of ease and unending contentment is to set ourselves up for continued disappointment and anguish.
When I first really absorbed the meaning of this it actually made me feel incredible. I am alive, therefore my knee hurts. I am alive, so I’m worried for the welfare of those I love. And when I considered it even further I began to understand that this is something that connects us all, regardless of our status in the world. From the most powerful kings and presidents to those sleeping rough begging for change; we are all fundamentally the same.
For me, it’s really helped me to push through boundaries that have stopped me being more assertive with those who are more powerful than I am; managers, bosses and such. My boss worries about stuff the same way I do. It’s probably different stuff, sure, but he’s still experiencing existential pain.
I am not a Buddhist, nor am I particularly spiritual. But I take a lot of inspiration from that phrase.
I buy a lottery ticket every week. Not because I think I stand a chance of winning but I am renting the idea that I could solve 95% of my problems instantly.
I wont win, I’ll still have problems I know this but that $10 a week is me renting hope.
I think schopenhauer’s quote:
is a corollary of sorts.