After all, it is not where one washes one's neck that counts but where one moistens one's throat. Djuna Barnes More Quotes by Djuna Barnes More Quotes From Djuna Barnes A man is whole only when he takes into account his shadow. Djuna Barnes accounts shadow men I talk too much because I have been made so miserable by what you are keeping hushed. Djuna Barnes miserable too-much made Time is a great conference planning our end, and youth is only the past putting a leg forward. Djuna Barnes planning legs past I like my human experience served up with a little silence and restraint. Silence makes experience go further and, when it does die, gives it that dignity common to a thing one had touched and not ravished Djuna Barnes silence littles giving The unendurable is the beginning of the curve of joy. Djuna Barnes unendurable curves joy Destiny and history are untidy. Djuna Barnes destiny A man is whole only when he takes into account his shadow as well as himself - and what is a man's shadow but his upright astonishment? Djuna Barnes wells shadow men Love becomes the deposit of the heart, analogous in all degrees to the 'findings' in a tomb. As in one will be charted the taken place of the body, the raiment, the utensils necessary to its other life, so in the heart of the lover will be traced, as an indelible shadow, that which he loves. Djuna Barnes taken heart love-is New York is the meeting place of the peoples, the only city where you can hardly find a typical American. Djuna Barnes typical cities new-york She was nervous about the future; it made her indelicate. She was one of the most unimportantly wicked women of her time --because she could not let her time alone, and yet could never be a part of it. She wanted to be the reason for everything and so was the cause of nothing. She had the fluency of tongue and action meted out by divine providence to those who cannot think for themselves. She was the master of the over-sweet phrase, the over-tight embrace. Djuna Barnes wicked sweet thinking Love is the first lie; wisdom the last. Djuna Barnes lasts love-is lying The whole world is nothing but a noise, as hot as the inside of a tiger's mouth. They call it civilization - that is a lie! But some day you may have to go out, someone will try to take you out, and you will not understand them or what they are saying, unless you understand nothing, absolutely nothing, then you will manage. Djuna Barnes trying civilization lying Our bones ache only while the flesh is on them. Djuna Barnes bones ache flesh I have been loved,' she said, 'by something strange, and it has forgotten me. Djuna Barnes strange forgotten said The very condition of Woman is so subject to Hazard, so complex, and so grievous, that to place her at one moment is but to displace her at the next. Djuna Barnes hazards next moments My war brought me many things; let yours bring you as much. Life is not to be told, call it as loud as you like, it will not tell itself. No one will be much or little except in someone else's mind, so be careful of the minds you get into, and remember Lady Macbeth, who had her mind in her hand. We can't all be as safe as that. Djuna Barnes mind war hands No man needs curing of his individual sickness; his universal malady is what he should look to. Djuna Barnes men looks needs We are but skin about a wind, with muscles clenched against mortality. Djuna Barnes mortality skins wind Our bones ache only while the flesh is on them. Stretch it as thin as the temple flesh of an ailing woman and still it serves to ache the bone and to move the bone about; and in like manner the night is a skin pulled over the head of day that the day may be in a torment. We will find no comfort until the night melts away; until the fury of the night rots out its fire. Djuna Barnes fire night moving Sleep demands of us a guilty immunity. Djuna Barnes guilty demand sleep
