Not that I want to be a god or a hero. Just to change into a tree, grow for ages, not hurt anyone. Czeslaw Milosz More Quotes by Czeslaw Milosz More Quotes From Czeslaw Milosz In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot. Czeslaw Milosz truth integrity people The purpose of poetry is to remind us how difficult it is to remain just one person, for our house is open, there are no keys in the doors, and invisible guests come in and out at will. Czeslaw Milosz keys house doors Religion used to be the opium of the people. To those suffering humiliation, pain, illness, and serfdom, religion promised the reward of an after life. But now, we are witnessing a transformation, a true opium of the people is the belief in nothingness after death, the huge solace, the huge comfort of thinking that for our betrayals, our greed, our cowardice, our murders, we are not going to be judged. Czeslaw Milosz betrayal pain atheist The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them. Czeslaw Milosz remembrance speak stories The voice of passion is better than the voice of reason. The passionless cannot change history. Czeslaw Milosz passion voice change Evil grows and bears fruit, which is understandable, because it has logic and probability on its side and also, of course, strength. The resistance of tiny kernels of good, to which no one grants the power of causing far-reaching consequences, is entirely mysterious, however. Such seeming nothingness not only lasts but contains within itself enormous energy which is revealed gradually. Czeslaw Milosz lasts energy evil The soul exceeds its circumstances. Czeslaw Milosz exceed soul circumstances Consolation Calm down. Both your sins and your good deeds will be lost in oblivion. Czeslaw Milosz calm sin deeds Do not feel safe. The poet remembers. Czeslaw Milosz deeds remembers-you remember-you The history of my stupidity would fill many volumes. Czeslaw Milosz stupidity volume Be young forever, seasons of the earth. Czeslaw Milosz earth young forever What has no shadow has no strength to live. Czeslaw Milosz shadow Language is the only homeland. Czeslaw Milosz homeland language At every sunrise I renounce the doubts of night and greet the new Czeslaw Milosz doubt night new-day The true enemy of man is generalization. Czeslaw Milosz generalization men enemy When a writer is born into a family, the family is finished. Czeslaw Milosz finished born I am composed of contradictions, which is why poetry is a better form for me than philosophy Czeslaw Milosz contradiction form philosophy A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death - the huge solace of thinking that for our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders we are not going to be judged. Czeslaw Milosz betrayal people thinking The purpose of poetry is to remind us / how difficult it is to remain just one person. Czeslaw Milosz difficult poetry-is purpose Men will clutch at illusions when they have nothing else to hold to. Czeslaw Milosz clutch illusion men