"In quoting others, we cite ourselves." - Julio Cortazar, Around the Day in Eighty Worlds
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Of course I had to include a quotation about quotations. A quotation is like looking in the mirror. It is the reflective nature of resonance. It is the human need for self-perception. If we did not have mirrors or cameras, which are really specialised mirrors, we could not see ourselves. Pieces of water like puddles or ponds are also mirrors. Mirrors found in nature. Quotations are like fishing in the pond of all the words ever spoken. Just like the fishes in the pond, quotations are good food for thought. It is true what they say, we are what we eat.
When I look in the mirror I see a human first. I see humility. I see love. I see dreams. I see purpose. I see humour. I see stories. I see a writer. I see a writer who is honing his talent. I see a writer looking for inspiration. I see a writer trying to make sense of the world around him. I see pieces of all the people and experiences who have influenced my life in one way or the other. I see a future full of hope. I see someone trying to better himself and the world we live in. I see God’s creation.
I see that writers are the mirrors of society. My friend Gemini tells me that it is important to remember that writers are not always perfect or neutral mirrors. Their own biases, beliefs, and artistic intentions can shape their reflections. Some might choose to distort or idealize aspects of society for specific purposes. That is true and also a reflection of society and science. Many times society and the people that make up society see what they want to see and choose the mirrors that suit their purpose. And then, a perfectly reflective mirror does not exist in science. Only God can be that perfect mirror I suppose. Full reflection and full truth is only possible in the divine. All this just highlights the importance of engaging with diverse voices and recognizing that each writer offers a unique, albeit potentially subjective, reflection.
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