Language Quote by Paul Celan
““Speak you too, speak as the last, say out your say. Speak- But don’t split off No from Yes. Give your say this meaning too: Give it the shadow. Give it shadow enough, Give it as much As you know is spread round you from Midnight to midday and midnight. Look around: See how things all come alive- By death! Alive! Speaks true who speaks shadow. But now the place shrinks, where you stand: Where now, shadow-stripped, where? Climb. Grope upwards. Thinner you grow, less knowable, finer! Finer: a thread The star wants to descend on: So as to swim down beliow, down here Where it sees itself shimmer:in the swell Of wandering words.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Shadow” (unpublished), 1960s
The poem explores the interplay of light and darkness, urging the speaker to seek deeper truth through shadow, recognizing that meaning emerges from both visible and hidden realms.
In simple terms: Seek truth in darkness and light.
Key Takeaway
Embrace shadow to find deeper meaning.
Themes
dualism
truth
shadow
language
creativity
Mood
introspective
enigmatic
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- writing workshops
- psychotherapy
- spiritual contemplation
Key Concepts
phenomenology
poetics
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does shadow reveal for you?
- How can embracing darkness enhance creativity?
A Different Perspective
Shadow may obscure clarity and cause confusion.
