8. What passages strike you as insightful, even profound?

[John]

8. What passages strike you as insightful, even profound?

[[deleted user]]

"Honour and disgrace follow each other in an unending cycle. No human power can arrest that cycle and hold it permanently in one position"

"But grief cannot mend our losses, and a day did at last arrive when he ceased to mourn"

[John]

"It is my hope that a full exposure to the illusions of feasting, drinking, music and dancing may succeed in bringing about an awakening in him some time in the future." The fairy Disenchantment.

"since even in these immortal precincts love is an illusion, the love of your dust-stained, mortal world must be doubly an illusion."

"What is the use of all this luxury and splendor, if I am to be always separated from those I love - denied the tenderness which even the poorest peasant who seasons his bread with salt and pickles and dresses in hempen homespun is free to enjoy." Yuan-Chen, the Imperial Concubine, during the visitation.

[Judith]

Good choices, John and Book, and good question as well. I'll have to go back a note others to include here as I can't remember any off hand.

[Patrick]

"Truth becomes fiction when the fiction's true;
Real becomes not-real where the unreal's real."

[Eadie]

"He who can check a moment's rage
Shall calm and carefree end his days."

"Ne've leave me, ne'er abandon me:
and years of health shall be your fee."

"Mislay me not, forget me not,
And hale old age shall be your lot."

[Pip]

The quote from Patrick really resonated with me, having just finished "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit". Winterson, in her introduction to the Audible version states much the same thing. I also highlighted John's quote about the double illusion of love in the mortal world. It also reminded me of the Eight Immortals, who, in Chinese tradition each have unique powers, which they use both for themselves and to help mortals.