“I’m thinking about a quote I’ve seen attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: ‘If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.’ I find that new waves are constantly rolling into shore, carrying testimonies from far places, and letting them rush over me as they arrive is what I find truly inspiring. Among the great and bracing waves I’ve greeted recently—to name one each from the worlds of literature, music, and film—are Mirror Kingdoms: The Best of Peter S. Beagle (short stories), the double EP Rivers by Wildbirds & Peacedrums, and the movie The Eclipse, directed by Conor McPherson.”
—Kevin Brockmeier, author of The Illumination (Pantheon Books, 2011)
Photo credit: Chris Austin
Comments
chroshak replied on Permalink
Saint-Exupery's Quote
I've never read this quote before but it so relevant and meaningful to me at this point in my life, both personally and professionally, that I just wanted to thank you for posting it here.
Yes, great longing builds desire that needs expression or action in order to bring about fulfillment in a meaningful way. It's what we all seek without always knowing it. Lovely, absolutely lovely.
Cheryl