Philosophy Quote by J.M. Coetzee — Inspiring Words on Life, Love & Wisdom

“The masters of information have forgotten about poetry, where words may have a meaning quite different from what the lexicon says, where the metaphoric spark is always one jump ahead of the decoding function, where another, unforeseen reading is always possible.”

“I truly believe I am not afraid of death. What I shrink from, I believe, is the shame of dying as stupid and befuddled as I am.”

“You are going to end up as one of those sad old men who poke around in rubbish bins.”

“I want to find a way of speaking to fellow human beings that will be cool rather than heated, philosophical rather than polemical, that will bring enlightenment rather than seeking to divide us into the righteous and the sinners, the saved and the damned, the sheep and the goats.”

“And still the text will remain, if it is really cryptic and parodying (and I tell you that it is so through and through. I might as well tell you since it won’t be of any help to you. Even my admission can very well be a lie because there is dissimulation only if one tells the truth, only if one tells that one is telling the truth), still the text will remain indefinitely open, cryptic and parodying.”

“Maybe I’m strange and perverse, but I’ve always thought there was something sexy about a compelling argument.”

“Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say "I think," "I am," but quotes some saint or safe.”

“We seem to inhabit a universe made up of a small number of elements-particles-bits that swirl in chaotic clouds, occasionally clustering together in geometrically logical temporary configurations.”

“MIGHT, something God only has.”

“Choose to be happy. It is what we have all done.”