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StillnessQuote391 of 1,961

How can I blame the wind for the mess it made, if it was me who opened the window.

Mahmoud Darwish

Literature

Why it matters

The idea in context

Attributed to Mahmoud Darwish (1941–2008), the Palestinian poet regarded as one of the great Arabic voices of the 20th century. The line turns blame inward with rueful honesty: we sometimes invite the very chaos we later resent. Before cursing the wind, it asks — who opened the window?

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Pencereyi açan ben isem, ortalığı dağıttı diye rüzgârı nasıl suçlayabilirim?
Mahmoud Darwish

20. yüzyıl Arap şiirinin büyük seslerinden sayılan Filistinli şair Mahmud Derviş'e (1941–2008) atfedilir. Söz, suçlamayı buruk bir dürüstlükle içe çevirir: Sonradan yakındığımız kaosu bazen kendimiz davet ederiz. Rüzgâra sövmeden önce sorar — pencereyi kim açtı?

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Background reading: Mahmoud DarwishAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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