The law presides over things of this world, finally. The…
““The law presides over things of this world, finally. The world where shadow is shadow and light is light, yin is yin and yang is yang, I'm me and he's him. 'I am me and / He is him/ Autumn eve.' But you don't belong to that world, sonny. The world you belong to is above that or below that." Which is better?" I asked, out of simple curiosity. "Above or below?" It's not that either one is better," he said. After a brief coughing fit, he spat a glob of phlegm onto a tissue and studied it closely before crumpling the tissue and throwing it into a wastebasket. "It's not a question of better or worse. The point is, not to resist the flow. You go up when you're supposed to go up and down when you're supposed to go down. When you're supposed to go up, find the highest tower and climb to the top. When you're supposed to go down, find the deepest well and go down to the bottom. When there is no flow, stay still. If you resist the flow, everything dries up. If everything dries up, the world is darkness. 'I am he and/ He is me:/ Spring nightfall.' Abandon the self, and there you are.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Life follows natural cycles; resisting the flow leads to stagnation, while aligning with it brings harmony.
In simple terms: Go with the flow; avoid resistance.
Key Takeaway
Embrace natural rhythms.
Themes
philosophy
balance
acceptance
Mood
thoughtful
serene
Type
literary
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- career decisions
- emotional coping
Key Concepts
yin‑yang
flow theory
self‑transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you resist the flow?
- How do you identify the right direction?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex choices, ignoring agency.