Time forks perpetually toward innumerable futures. Jorge Luis Borges More Quotes by Jorge Luis Borges More Quotes From Jorge Luis Borges You who read me, are You sure of understanding my language? Jorge Luis Borges language understanding In the critic's vocabulary, the word "precursor" is indispensable, but it should be cleansed of all connotations of polemic or rivalry. The fact is that every writer creates his own precursors. His work modifies our conception of the past, as it will modify the future." -- Essay: "Kafka and his Precursors Jorge Luis Borges vocabulary facts past Reality favors symmetry. Jorge Luis Borges symmetry favors reality Beyond my anxiety, beyond this writing, Jorge Luis Borges anxiety waiting writing When you come right down to it, opinions are the most superficial things about anyone Jorge Luis Borges superficial-things superficial opinion Time, which despoils castles, enriches verses. Jorge Luis Borges castles verses time Democracy is an abuse of statistics. Jorge Luis Borges abuse democracy government A labyrinth of symbols... An invisible labyrinth of time. Jorge Luis Borges labyrinth invisible time We did meet forty years ago. At that time we were both influenced by Whitman and I said, jokingly in part, 'I don't think anything can be done in Spanish, do you?' Neruda agreed, but we decided it was too late for us to write our verse in English. We'd have to make the best of a second-rate literature. Jorge Luis Borges writing years thinking You may win your heart's desire, but in the end you're cheated of it by death. Jorge Luis Borges winning desire heart Man's memory shapes Its own Eden within Jorge Luis Borges alzheimers men memories Every writer creates his own precursors. His work modifies our conception of the past, as it will modify the future. Jorge Luis Borges polemics writing past The sea is an idiom I cannot decipher. Jorge Luis Borges decipher idiom sea Two aesthetics exist: the passive aesthetic of mirrors and the active aesthetic of prisms. Guided by the former, art turns into a copy of the environment's objectivity or the individual's psychic history. Guided by the latter, art is redeemed, makes the world into its instrument, and forges, beyond spatial and temporal prisons, a personal vision. Jorge Luis Borges objectivity mirrors art Poetry springs from something deeper; it's beyond intelligence. Jorge Luis Borges deeper spring Time is the substance of which we are made Jorge Luis Borges substance made inspirational Israelites, Christians and Muslims profess immortality, but the veneration they render this world proves they believe only in it, since they destine all other worlds, in infinite number, to be its reward or punishment. Jorge Luis Borges other-worlds christian believe Reality is not always probable, or likely. But if you're writing a story, you have to make it as plausible as you can, because if not, the reader's imagination will reject it. Jorge Luis Borges imagination writing reality The things that are said in literature are always the same. What is important is the way they are said. Looking for metaphors, for example: When I was a young man I was always hunting for new metaphors. Then I found out that really good metaphors are always the same. Jorge Luis Borges hunting important men There is no exercise of the intellect which is not, in the final analysis, useless. A philosophical doctrine begins as a plausible description of the universe; with the passage of the years it becomes a mere chapter if not a paragraph or a name in the history of philosophy. Jorge Luis Borges philosophical exercise philosophy
