Quotes About Contemplation

How does one grow up?" I asked a friend the other day. There was a slight pause; then she answered, "By thinking.

I am here alone for the first time in weeks, to take up my real life again at last. That is what is strange - that friends, even passionate love, are not my real life unless there is time alone in which to explore and to discover what is happening or has happened. Without the interruptions, nourishing and maddening, this life would become arid. Yet I taste it fully only when I am alone here and the house and I resume old conversations.

and Andy, gloomy and self-devouring, sat at his desk and chewed the cud of memory.

Let silence in. She will rarely speak or mew, She will sleep on my bed And all I have ever been Either false or true Will live again in my head. For it is now or not As old age silts the stream, To shove away the clutter, To untie every knot, To take the time to dream, To come back to still water.

Hilary had always imagined that one of the blessings of old age would be that one might live by and for these essentials...the light on a wall.

LAST NIGHT I lay awake for a long time, a really good "think" for a change.

Once more I realize acutely that solitude is my element, and the reason is that extreme awareness of other people (all naturally solitary people must feel this) precludes awareness of one's self, so after a while the self no longer knows that it exists.

O, in this single hour I live, All of myself and do not move. I, the pursued, who madly ran, Stand still, stand still and stop the sun!

When it comes to the important things one is always alone.

It is restful even to imagine expression without words.

The world had taken a deep breath and was having doubts about continuing to revolve.

The wise woman thinks twice and speaks once or, better yet, does not speak at all.

I stood dumfounded, founded in dumbness.

He turned his back and went through the door into the cool beyond. Momma backed up inside herself for a few minutes. I forgot everything except her face which was almost a new one to me. She leaned over and took the doorknob, and in her everyday soft voice she said, "Sister, go on downstairs. Wait for me. I'll be there directly.

then go to my room where solitude gaped whale-jawed wide to swallow me entire.

Jon, larger and more gentle, moved slowly, spoke seldom and seemed to have burdened with the responsibility of pondering the world's imponderables.

But as the Revered droned on and on and on to a God who I thought must be bored to hear the same things over and over again, I saw that the ham grease had turned white on the tomatoes.

I couldn't decide on any move, so I recited a few Bible verses, and went home.

When you see me sitting quietly, Like a sack left on the shelf, Don't think I need your chattering. I'm listening to myself. Hold!

How often must we butt to head Mind to ass flank to nuts cock to elbow hip to toe soul to shoulder confront ourselves in our past.

You seemed out of place, she blurted out. You have very strong features. I was itching to get them down on paper. You have an interesting face and it was obvious you had a lot on your mind. I find people are a lot more open when they think no one is watching them. If you'd been posing , the picture wouldn't have been the same.

What is the sound of one hand clapping? What is the weight of a single grain of sand? The answer is equal to my interest in the message you are about to leave so make it short. -- Mitch Hertzog's voice mail message.

Most people talk when they have nothing to say. I'm not talking because I have too much to say. None of which I'd want you to hear.

I would very much like to strangle someone. Why don't you go away until I decide it isn't you?