Jorge Luis Borges―the Argentine literary maestro who could effortlessly weave magic and philosophy into his words. I’ve dug into his works and pulled 10 quotes that might have you drifting into a little daydream, pondering life, love, and everything in between. Plus, I’ve paired them with snippets of Edvard Munch’s public domain drawings to give you the full experience. Intrigued? Well, let’s jump right in.
1. “I saw all the mirrors on earth and none of them reflected me.”
― The Aleph and Other Stories
2. “From my weakness, I drew strength that never left me.”
― Ficciones
3. “Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time.”
― The Book of Sand
4. “Heaven and hell seem out of proportion to me: the actions of men do not deserve so much.”
― A New Refutation of Time
5. “There are those who seek the love of a woman to forget her, to not think about her.”
― The Aleph and Other Stories
6. “Over time you will learn to forgive
or ask for forgiveness,
say you love, say you miss, say you need,
say you want to be friends, since before
a grave, it will no longer make sense.
But unfortunately, only over time…”
― You Learn
7. “What man of us has never felt, walking through the twilight or writing down a date from his past, that he has lost something infinite?”
― Dreamtigers
8. “The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.”
― The Circular Ruins
9. “Time is the substance I am made of. Time is a river which sweeps me along, but I am the river; it is a tiger which destroys me, but I am the tiger; it is a fire which consumes me, but I am the fire.”
― Labyrinths
10. If I could live again – I will travel light,
If I could live again – I’ll try to
work bare feet
at the beginning of spring
till the end of autumn,
I’ll ride more carts,
I’ll watch more sunrises
and play with more children,
If I have the life to live – but now I am 85,
– and I know that I am dying…
― Instants
There you have it, 10 beautiful Borges quotes with a touch of art. But don’t stop here! There’s more literary magic on The Rockle:
🔖 John Steinbeck: Unforgettable Quotes
🔖 James Baldwin: 10 Powerful Quotes
🔖 Timeless Insights by Ernest Hemingway
🔖 Charles Bukowski: Hard-hitting Quotes