A togetherness between two people is an impossibility, and where it seems, nevertheless, to exist, it is a narrowing, a reciprocal agreement which robs either one party or both of his fullest freedom and development. But, once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole and against a wide sky!—Rainer Maria Rilke, letter dated Aug. 17, 1901, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke: Volume 1, 1892–1910 (trans. Greene & Norton 1945)
Monday, April 2, 2012
'infinite distances continue to exist'
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These are beautiful quotes, Matt. Thanks for sharing. I haven't read any Rilke yet, but am inspired to give him a try now!
ReplyDeleteMatt: I don't know if you read the New Republic's "The Book," but they have a section where they pull out past articles and the one I saw this morning was on Rilke by Auden. http://www.tnr.com/book/review/rilke-in-english
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Kyle! That's a fascinating review.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the quotes. I had a couple of Rilke's books lying around & decided to pick up both this past weekend. The two passages about friendship reminded me of the passage from Hesse you posted. (German writers are taking over this blog lately.) I read Steppenwolf & Demian years ago but don't remember much about them. I'll have to read him again soon.