Concrete Quote by Kaiten Nukariya
““11. Life in the Concrete. Life in the concrete, which we are living, greatly differs from life in the abstract, which exists only in the class-room. It is not eternal; it is fleeting; it is full of anxieties, pains, struggles, brutalities, disappointments, and calamities. We love life, however, -not only for its smoothness, but for its roughness; not only for its pleasure, but for its pain; not only for its hope, but for its fear; not only for its flowers, but for its frost and snow. As Issai[FN#224] (Sato) has aptly put it: "Prosperity is like spring, in which we have green leaves and flowers wherever we go; while adversity is like winter, in which we have snow and ice. Spring, of course, pleases us; winter, too, displeases us not." Adversity is salt to our lives, as it keeps them from corruption, no matter how bitter to taste it way be. It is the best stimulus to body and mind, since it brings forth latent energy that may remain dormant but for it.””
About This Quote
Life’s concrete reality is full of hardships and joys, each giving meaning and preventing stagnation.
In simple terms: Hardships give life flavor and purpose.
Embrace both joy and pain.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- mental health
- creative work
- relationships
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you find value in suffering?
- What practices help you balance joy and pain?
Adversity can be overwhelming and may hinder progress if not managed.