"Everyone who enjoys thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed. — Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy."
— Friedrich Nietzsche
While the seed is crucial, it would be foolish to believe anyone, I mean anyone, would want to enjoy seeds. Besides, those who sow seeds are not doing so only to create. They too wish to enjoy the fruits.
This could apply not just to real seeds, trees, fruits, but to any aspect of life. For me, especially, it is about creativity. An idea that remains an idea can suffocate. I need an outlet.
It is possible to also enjoy another's creation without necessarily knowing or wondering about the seed that gave it birth.
This afternoon for two hours I was enraptured with music that was in some ways alien, and in some familiar. Kenya is the land my Nani came from. I think about her every single day. Listening to this song just took me closer to her history. Another seed.
This is not the season for it, but 'Kothbiro' means "the rain is coming"...
Friedrich Nietzsche is considered a great philosopher and may be this statement has a different meaning in the context he was saying it, but on its own I believe that we can safely say that not one part of a tree can be considered principal. Creation is important but for the creation to survive a lot of other pieces are needed or there would be no more next creation.
ReplyDeleteSai:
ReplyDeleteI think this quote too is stating something important. I just took a parallel route that had to do with general consumption.
The seed is principal to creation, the rest for other purposes, including producing more seeds. Therefore, all parts are enmeshed in the whole just as the whole is incomplete without the parts.