Jorge Luis Borges

Writer, Poet

Jorge Luis Borges was an Argentine writer known for his intricate short stories and essays that explore themes of identity, infinity, and labyrinths.

Born
August 24, 1899
Died
June 14, 1986
Quotes
334
Rank
#213

About Jorge Luis Borges

Jorge Luis Borges — Life and Legacy

Jorge Luis Borges, an Argentine writer and poet, is celebrated for his profound contributions to literature, particularly through his short stories that delve into complex themes of identity and infinity. His works, such as 'The Aleph' and 'Ficciones', challenge conventional narratives and invite readers to explore the nature of reality itself. Borges' key ideas often revolve around the paradoxes of existence, as exemplified in his quote, 'I am not sure that I exist.' This reflects his philosophical stance that identity is fluid and subjective, questioning the very essence of self. His fascination with labyrinths serves as a metaphor for the intricate paths of human thought and experience, suggesting that understanding is often elusive. The relevance of Borges' quotes continues to resonate today, as they provoke deep reflection on the nature of knowledge, time, and existence. His ability to weave complex ideas into accessible narratives has left a lasting impact on literature, encouraging readers to confront the mysteries of their own identities and the infinite possibilities that lie within the human experience.

Quote collection

Jorge Luis Borges quotes (page 1 of 17)

334 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Jorge Luis Borges Writer, Poet
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"Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time."

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"I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers that I have read, all the people that I have met, all the women that I have loved; all the cities I have visited."

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"I cannot sleep unless I am surrounded by books."

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"The worst labyrinth is not that intricate form that can entrap us forever, but a single and precise straight line"

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"The fact is that poetry is not the books in the library . . . Poetry is the encounter of the reader with the book, the discovery of the book."

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"Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone."

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"I can give you my loneliness, my darkness, the hunger of my heart, I am trying to bribe you with uncertainty, with danger, with defeat."

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"Being an agnostic means all things are possible, even God, even the Holy Trinity. This world is so strange that anything may happen, or may not happen. Being an agnostic makes me live in a larger, a more fantastic kind of world, almost uncanny. It makes me more tolerant."

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"Time is the substance from which I am made. Time is a river which carries me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger that devours me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire that consumes me, but I am the fire."

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"We accept reality so readily - perhaps because we sense that nothing is real."

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"Dictatorships foster oppression, dictatorships foster servitude, dictatorships foster cruelty; more abominable is the fact that they foster idiocy."

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"Soccer is popular because stupidity is popular."

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"The tango is a direct expression of something that poets have often tried to state in words: the belief that a fight may be a celebration."

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"The future is inevitable and precise, but it may not occur. God lurks in the gaps."

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"Art always opts for the individual, the concrete; art is not Platonic."

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