Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday

a river in the Pyrénées


You could not step twice into the same river;
for other waters are ever flowing on to you.
- Heraclitus, On the Universe

I believe this to be literally and figuratively true. Literally, the flowing water changes --- its contents, its velocity, its depth as it goes to join other bodies of water or meanders its way through valleys and gorges. Figuratively, people do not remain static. Our experiences, whether trivial or not, modifies our perspective on life. No matter how infinitesimal the changes are, they are still changes. And when we are in a situation similar to a previous one, we couldn’t and wouldn’t react precisely in the same way --- for we are not exactly the same person as before.

To quote again from Heraclitus: All is flux, nothing stays still (from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers)

see my other wordless wednesdays
see other wordless wednesday participants

35 comments:

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

Strong caption that fits perfectly well for the picture :)

Barb said...

Your observations are as moving as the river photo.

Indrani said...

So true the quote, every word of it and your picture is beautiful!
Happy WW!

Anonymous said...

OH I would really like to be beside that river. Thankyou for showing me.

I liked the quotes as well..

cheers kim

Hootin Anni said...

Your photo is perfect...the quote is awesome.


My Wordless is shared, hope you can stop by if time allows!! Happy Wednesday.

Anonymous said...

Good words to go along with a good picture! Thanks for stopping by...

Selerines said...

Nice lines.... Good one... The scenery some what depicts the Kashmir.....

Anonymous said...

Nice pic...happy WW.

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful shot of a beautiful river and your observations are so accurate.

SandyCarlson said...

Well said. We are changed by the water and we change the water. Beautiful photo.

Anonymous said...

That's a truly moving photo, and what a well-chosen quote for the caption.

maryt/theteach said...

lareine, beautiful photo! Nice thoughts! :D

Anonymous said...

Great pic, as always and indeed, the caption goes true. No single experience is the same, even how much we want it to be. Everything's always changing as life goes on.

Kimberly said...

I love the quote and the photo. So beautiful!

Pardon My French said...

That is really a beautiful photo. I've only been the the Pyrenees once but I loved it. I've been thinking a lot lately about personal change so your post was really appropriate. Lovely.

jams o donnell said...

What a beautiful photo and a wonderful quote!

DoubleDeckerBusGuy said...

...still, there is that nagging notion that there is no more nor no less water on this planet as there was at the beginning of it's habitation thanks to our protective atmosphere... Ergo: In some ways, it is the same water... and always has been... just moving and swirling around our world.

Unknown said...

That is a beautiful spot!

SHIELA said...

All I can say is WOW. Nicely taken.

Happy WW. Visit my entry too.

Momisodes said...

What a gorgeous shot and accompanying quote :)

Anonymous said...

The quote is perfect! The picture is amazing!

Happy WW!!

Maya said...

As much as i love the photo the quote really make it's mark.
Every thing you say it's true.

"Figuratively, people do not remain static. Our experiences, whether trivial or not, modifies our perspective on life. No matter how infinitesimal the changes are, they are still changes. And when we are in a situation similar to a previous one, we couldn’t and wouldn’t react precisely in the same way --- for we are not exactly the same person as before."
NOW, WHO COULD SAY IT BETTER? YOU!
I agree with you.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Happy WW

Anonymous said...

I agree when you said that people change, no matter how infinitesimal the change is. We do change everyday- everytime.

Great shot!

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful shot! Looks like a lot of snow runoff. Thanks for your visit to my site.

Happy WW!

Chibog in Chief said...

what a beautiful post!!

lareine said...

to everybody: thank you very much for taking the time to visit and leave wonderful messages/comments... i'm glad i'm not the only one who feels this way regarding the photo and the quote...

to doubledeckerbusguy: you have a point: conservation of energy --- nothing is lost or gained: it just changes form one form to another... in the overall equation, nothing has changed... and yet, in a specific period of time, we are dealing with a different form of energy from what we have at the start... like when light rays fall on a greenhouse, an infinitesimal amount of light is reflected, part of its changed into heat and this heat is not entirely contained in the green house (some of it escape)... so the energy we feel in side the green house is not exactly the same form and amount as of the original/source... this is my point:)... but you are right, it's still the same in the final count :)

Anonymous said...

and to bring it back to layman language..."life goes on..."

Katarina said...

That is so true! Everything changes, doesn't it? You can't stop the time and you can't go back - only forward.
/Katarina

lareine said...

to UTP: very nice rejoinder... very simple and yet to the point :)... thanks for the visit...

to katarina: yep, sometimes i wish i could make time stand still or go back, but then we can't... so we just have to go on... and with it, certain changes in us and around us...

Anonymous said...

it looks so peaceful :)

Anonymous said...

have a great weekend in advance sis

Anonymous said...

well you shared something good...and thought provoking...why wouldnt I visit right? hehhe...thanks for coming also...

Hina said...

I can't help but agree with everyone else. A beautiful picture and very beautiful words!

lareine said...

to busymom: yep, being here can make you forget your worries... at least for a while...

to francine: thanks and hope you had a great one too!

to UTP: you're welcome... and you also shared something funny (and practical for me) which is worth visiting :)

to hina: thank you very much for your wonderful comment and visit:)

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