We have a very precise image - an image at times shameless - of what we have lost, but we are ignorant of what may follow or replace it. Jorge Luis Borges More Quotes by Jorge Luis Borges More Quotes From Jorge Luis Borges Any time something is written against me, I not only share the sentiment but feel I could do the job far better myself. Perhaps I should advise would-be enemies to send me their grievances beforehand, with full assurance that they will receive my every aid and support. I have even secretly longed to write, under a pen name, a merciless tirade against myself. Jorge Luis Borges writing jobs art I think that the reader should enrich what he is reading. He should misunderstand the text; he should change it into something else. Jorge Luis Borges reading should thinking I had always thought of Paradise / In form and image as a library. Jorge Luis Borges library paradise book It means much to have loved, to have been happy, to have laid my hand on the living Garden, even for a day. Jorge Luis Borges garden mean hands I believe books will never disappear. It is impossible for it to happen. Of all man's diverse tools, undoubtedly the most astounding are his books... If books were to disappear, history would disappear. So would man. Jorge Luis Borges motivational inspirational believe He consorted with prostitutes and poets...and with persons even worse. Jorge Luis Borges poet persons We are as ignorant of the meaning of the dragon as we are of the meaning of the universe. Jorge Luis Borges ignorant universe dragons The word happiness exists in every language; it is plausible the thing itself exists. Jorge Luis Borges plausible language What a writer wants to do is not what he does. Jorge Luis Borges doe want writing I thought that a man can be an enemy of other men, of the moments of other men, but not of a country: not of fireflies, words, gardens, streams of water, sunsets. Jorge Luis Borges sunset firefly country Whoever would undertake some atrocious enterprise should act as if it were already accomplished should impose upon himself a future as irrevocable as the past. Jorge Luis Borges accomplished should past In adultery, there is usually tenderness and self-sacrifice; in murder, courage; in profanation and blasphemy, a certain satanic splendour. Judas elected those offences unvisited by any virtues: abuse of confidence and informing. Jorge Luis Borges abuse sacrifice self A writer, or any man, must believe that whatever happens to him is an instrument; everything has been given for an end. This is even stronger in the case of the artist. Everything that happens, including humiliations, embarrassments, misfortunes, all has been given like clay, like material for one's art. One must accept it. Jorge Luis Borges men believe art He was very religious; he believed that he had a secret pact with God which exempted him from doing good in exchange for prayers and piety. Jorge Luis Borges religious secret prayer It also occurred to him that throughout history, humankind has told two stories: the story of a lost ship sailing the Mediterranean seas in quest of a beloved isle, and the story of a god who allows himself to be crucified on Golgotha. Jorge Luis Borges sailing sea two The future is as irrevocable as an inflexible yesterday. Jorge Luis Borges irrevocable future yesterday He thought that the rose was to be found in its own eternity and not in his words; and that we may mention or allude to a thing, but not express it. Jorge Luis Borges eternity rose may His life, measured in space and time, will take up a mere few lines, which my ignorance will abbreviate further. Jorge Luis Borges lines space ignorance We forget that we are all dead men conversing with dead men. Jorge Luis Borges conversation forget men My advanced age has taught me the resignation of being Borges. Jorge Luis Borges borges taught age
