Metaphor Quotes | Beyond Motive

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Metaphor Quotes

"When we say "transformation," it means that nothing of the old has remained. Something totally new has flowered within you. Now you look at a rose plant that is full of thorns. Springtime came and rose flowers burst out - it is a transformation. The thorns are still there - there are more thorns than flowers - but we do not call it a thorn plant. We call it a rose plant because of that single rose. Everyone's attention goes more towards that single rose than a hundred thorns that are on the plant, isn't it? So all the thorns in you, maybe you cannot remove them right now, but if one rose flower blossoms, everyone is willing to overlook those things."

"When we say "transformation," it means that nothing of the old has remained. Something totally new has flowered within you. Now you look at a rose plant that is full of thorns. Springtime came and rose flowers burst out - it is a transformation. The thorns are still there - there are more thorns than flowers - but we do not call it a thorn plant. We call it a rose plant because of that single rose. Everyone's attention goes more towards that single rose than a hundred thorns that are on the plant, isn't it? So all the thorns in you, maybe you cannot remove them right now, but if one rose flower blossoms, everyone is willing to overlook those things."

Sadhguru, Indian Spiritual Leader

Metaphor, Transformation, Change, Growth, Hope

32

"Poison is like the drowned, it always floats."

"Poison is like the drowned, it always floats."

Toni Morrison, American Novelist

Metaphor, Danger, Poison, Mystery

29

"It is assumed that the woman must wait motionless until she is wooed. That is how the spider waits for the fly."

"It is assumed that the woman must wait motionless until she is wooed. That is how the spider waits for the fly."

George Bernard Shaw, Irish Dramatist

Metaphor, Patience, Waiting, Power

29

"The sort of fish that a good fisherman puts back into the water."

"The sort of fish that a good fisherman puts back into the water."

Virginia Woolf, British Author

Metaphor, Fish, Release, Nature, Choice

29

"The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book- a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day."

"The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book- a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve, delivering its most cherished secrets as clearly as if it uttered them with a voice. And it was not a book to be read once and thrown aside, for it had a new story to tell every day."

Mark Twain, American Author

Metaphor, Water, Language, Secrets, Story

28

"A woman's eyes cut deeper than a knife."

"A woman's eyes cut deeper than a knife."

Robert Jordan, American Author

Metaphor, Women, Eyes, Pain, Perception

24

"The moon is always holding the stars, you must do the same."

"The moon is always holding the stars, you must do the same."

M.F. Moonzajer, Afghan Author

Metaphor, Support, Nature, Relationship, Care

24

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers."

"Butterflies are self propelled flowers."

Robert A. Heinlein, American Writer

Metaphor, Nature, Beauty, Inspirational

23

"Let us play hide and seek in a mountain which is like a women's back."

"Let us play hide and seek in a mountain which is like a women's back."

Santosh Kalwar, Nepalese Poet

Metaphor, Nature, Playfulness, Symbolism

22

"There are few things as toxic as a bad metaphor. You can't think without metaphors."

"There are few things as toxic as a bad metaphor. You can't think without metaphors."

Mary Catherine Bateson, American Scientist

Metaphor, Metaphors

22

"Like boarding a train running parallel. That's what disappearing is."

"Like boarding a train running parallel. That's what disappearing is."

Haruki Murakami, Japanese Writer

Metaphor, Disappearance, Parallel, Movement, Escape

21

"Perhaps time's definition of coal is the diamond."

"Perhaps time's definition of coal is the diamond."

Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese Philosopher

Metaphor, Time, Change, Values

21

"When I can't talk sense, I talk metaphor."

"When I can't talk sense, I talk metaphor."

John Philpot Curran, Irish Public Servant

Metaphor, Sense, Talk

19

"A girl without braids is like a city without bridges."

"A girl without braids is like a city without bridges."

Roman Payne, American Novelist

Metaphor, Identity, Symbol, Innocence, Beauty

19

"A world in the hand is worth two in the bush."

"A world in the hand is worth two in the bush."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

Metaphor, World, Values

18

"Shoes are like society. Once in awhile they have to replace the worn out souls."

"Shoes are like society. Once in awhile they have to replace the worn out souls."

Kate McGahan, American Author

Metaphor, Society, Change, Life, Cycle

18

"People who are unable to stand within the dark places of life, those who are always running towards their happy places, are the same things as candles without flames. There is no worth in a candle without a flame, and we only add the flame when there is darkness. Without darkness, there would be no need for warriors and angels. Warriors are not made because the whole world is happy and angels were not formed because there are no demons. Be of worth, have a flame."

"People who are unable to stand within the dark places of life, those who are always running towards their happy places, are the same things as candles without flames. There is no worth in a candle without a flame, and we only add the flame when there is darkness. Without darkness, there would be no need for warriors and angels. Warriors are not made because the whole world is happy and angels were not formed because there are no demons. Be of worth, have a flame."

C. JoyBell C., American Author

Metaphor, Darkness, Light, Worth, Values

18

"Islands are metaphors of the heart, no matter what poet says otherwise."

"Islands are metaphors of the heart, no matter what poet says otherwise."

Jeanette Winterson, British Novelist

Metaphor, Islands, Heart, Poetry

17

"She felt like Captain Ahab, for the first time sighting his great white whale."

"She felt like Captain Ahab, for the first time sighting his great white whale."

Stephen King, American Author

Metaphor, Obsession, Sight, Truth, Fantasy

17

"Again, one of the problems I have with television, as I mentioned before, is it's trivial in many ways, and I think that a lot of folks out there are looking for new metaphors and new ways of thinking about things."

"Again, one of the problems I have with television, as I mentioned before, is it's trivial in many ways, and I think that a lot of folks out there are looking for new metaphors and new ways of thinking about things."

J. Michael Straczynski, American Producer

Metaphor, Metaphors, Problems, Television, Thinking

17

"This is my knife. It is very sharp and very eager to hurt you."

"This is my knife. It is very sharp and very eager to hurt you."

Lemony Snicket, American Author

Metaphor, Threat, Danger, Violence

16

"You are the ocean to my eyes."

"You are the ocean to my eyes."

Sanober Khan, Indian Businessman

Metaphor, Nature, Perception, Emotion

16

"Unlike metaphor, metonymy does not try to fuse images together."

"Unlike metaphor, metonymy does not try to fuse images together."

Thomas Harrison, American Historian

16

"A bull that allows a he goat to deter it from moving forward is nothing but a mere he goat."

"A bull that allows a he goat to deter it from moving forward is nothing but a mere he goat."

Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, Ghanaian Author

Metaphor, Strength, Movement, Life

16

"Nothing is more opaque than absolute transparency. Look-my feet don't hit the marble! Like breath or a balloon, I'm rising, I hover six inches in the air in my blazing swan-egg of light. You think I'm not a goddess? Try me. This is a torch song. Touch me and you'll burn."

"Nothing is more opaque than absolute transparency. Look-my feet don't hit the marble! Like breath or a balloon, I'm rising, I hover six inches in the air in my blazing swan-egg of light. You think I'm not a goddess? Try me. This is a torch song. Touch me and you'll burn."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Metaphor, Transparency, Flight, Light

16

"Believe me when I say: 'Out of all those around, she's the best locksmith in town.' Her stethoscope ears know when the dials of your heart click into place.She's been cutting keys for years.You don't stand a chance with that flimsy case.Alas, no matter how you lock your heart- bolt, fixture, and key- she's got nimble fingersthat pick locks for free.Padlocks and deadboltsare all in vain.Why do you even botherwith that chain?She's way too smart. Along with ours, she'll have your heart. And you will see that the best locksmith in town is she."

"Believe me when I say: 'Out of all those around, she's the best locksmith in town.' Her stethoscope ears know when the dials of your heart click into place.She's been cutting keys for years.You don't stand a chance with that flimsy case.Alas, no matter how you lock your heart- bolt, fixture, and key- she's got nimble fingersthat pick locks for free.Padlocks and deadboltsare all in vain.Why do you even botherwith that chain?She's way too smart. Along with ours, she'll have your heart. And you will see that the best locksmith in town is she."

Kamand Kojouri, Iranian Poet

Metaphor, Heart, Skill, Love, Protection

16

"The strangest thing that human speech and human writing can do is create a metaphor. That is an amazing leap, is it not?"

"The strangest thing that human speech and human writing can do is create a metaphor. That is an amazing leap, is it not?"

Dennis Potter, British Dramatist

Metaphor, Speech, Writing

16

"We are such materialists that all our metaphors are going to be material."

"We are such materialists that all our metaphors are going to be material."

J. T. Walsh, American Actor

Metaphor, Metaphors

16

"What runs through a person like water through a sieve."

"What runs through a person like water through a sieve."

Samuel Butler, British Poet

Metaphor, Life, Observation, Flow, Existence

16

"When someone beats a rug,the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it."

"When someone beats a rug,the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it."

Rumi, Persian Poet

Metaphor, Wisdom, Perception, Change, Truth

15

"When you're as hot as you are, no amount of ice will do."

"When you're as hot as you are, no amount of ice will do."

Anthony T. Hincks, British Writer

Metaphor, Resistance, Strength, Power, Emotion

15

"You would run much slower if you were dragging something behind you, like a knapsack or a sheriff."

"You would run much slower if you were dragging something behind you, like a knapsack or a sheriff."

Lemony Snicket, American Author

Metaphor, Burden, Speed, Life, Obstacle

14

"There are wolves within, and there are sheep without."

"There are wolves within, and there are sheep without."

Saint Augustine, Algerian Saint

Metaphor, Nature, Conflict, Awareness

14

"The boiling water that does not cool down only dries out!"

"The boiling water that does not cool down only dries out!"

Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, Ghanaian Author

Metaphor, Water, Change, Life

14

"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it."

"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it."

Jane Austen, British Writer

Metaphor, Hope, Despair, Journey, Fear

14

"Until you press the switch button of the light in your room on, you shall always have light in your room and still leave in darkness."

"Until you press the switch button of the light in your room on, you shall always have light in your room and still leave in darkness."

Ernest Agyemang Yeboah, Ghanaian Author

Metaphor, Light, Darkness, Press, Existence

14

"Pretty Stones."

"Pretty Stones."

Virginia Woolf, British Author

Metaphor, Art, Beauty, Simplicity, Perception

13

"Let your heart be your eye."

"Let your heart be your eye."

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian Author

Metaphor, Heart, Eye, Perception, Vision

13

"Light is shallow; darkness is infinitely deep. Light is always bounded, it has boundaries. Darkness has no boundaries, it is unbounded. Light comes and goes; darkness always is. When there is light you cannot see it. When light is not there you can see it. But it is always there; you cannot cause it. Light has a cause. You burn the fire, you put on wood. When the wood is finished the light will be gone. It is caused, hence it is an effect. But darkness is not caused by anything, it is not an effect. It is uncaused eternity."

"Light is shallow; darkness is infinitely deep. Light is always bounded, it has boundaries. Darkness has no boundaries, it is unbounded. Light comes and goes; darkness always is. When there is light you cannot see it. When light is not there you can see it. But it is always there; you cannot cause it. Light has a cause. You burn the fire, you put on wood. When the wood is finished the light will be gone. It is caused, hence it is an effect. But darkness is not caused by anything, it is not an effect. It is uncaused eternity."

Osho, Indian Spiritual Leader

Metaphor, Light, Darkness, Boundaries, Eternity

13

"We are like travelers using the cinders of a volcano to roast their eggs."

"We are like travelers using the cinders of a volcano to roast their eggs."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet

Metaphor, Travel, Survival, Adaptation

13

"I read somewhere once that souls were like flowers,' said Priscilla.'Then your soul is a golden narcissus,' said Anne, 'and Diana's is like a red, red rose. Jane's is an apple blossom, pink and wholesome and sweet.''And our own is a white violet, with purple streaks in its heart,' finished Priscilla."

"I read somewhere once that souls were like flowers,' said Priscilla.'Then your soul is a golden narcissus,' said Anne, 'and Diana's is like a red, red rose. Jane's is an apple blossom, pink and wholesome and sweet.''And our own is a white violet, with purple streaks in its heart,' finished Priscilla."

L. M. Montgomery, Canadian Author

Metaphor, Soul, Beauty, Symbolism, Nature

13

"It is ironic that we are particular about flushing out all the dirt through the Drain, but we continue to retain a lot of it in our Brain."

"It is ironic that we are particular about flushing out all the dirt through the Drain, but we continue to retain a lot of it in our Brain."

R.V.M., Indian Author

Metaphor, Irony, Mind, Thought, Cleanliness

13

"Don't let the tall weeds cast a shadow on the beautiful flowers in your garden."

"Don't let the tall weeds cast a shadow on the beautiful flowers in your garden."

Steve Maraboli, American Author

Metaphor, Weeds, Flowers, Garden, Shadow

13

"For I am a drop of water, I may change but I will never vanish in thin air."

"For I am a drop of water, I may change but I will never vanish in thin air."

Debasish Mridha, American Author

Metaphor, Water, Change, Vanishing

13

"The moon is too old, the flower is too old;even the sunset is not enough. The only relevant metaphor for you is your mirror image."

"The moon is too old, the flower is too old;even the sunset is not enough. The only relevant metaphor for you is your mirror image."

Amit Kalantri, Indian Author

Metaphor, Moon, Sunset, Life, Image

12

"At some indeterminate point in their life cycles, they cause themselves to be placed in artificial stone or wooden cocoons, or chrysalises. They have an idea that they will someday emerge from these in an altered state, which they symbolize with carvings of themselves with wings. However, we did not observe that any had actually done so."

"At some indeterminate point in their life cycles, they cause themselves to be placed in artificial stone or wooden cocoons, or chrysalises. They have an idea that they will someday emerge from these in an altered state, which they symbolize with carvings of themselves with wings. However, we did not observe that any had actually done so."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Metaphor, Transformation, Symbolism, Hope

12

"Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump, you may be freeing him from being a camel."

"Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump, you may be freeing him from being a camel."

Gilbert K. Chesterton, English Writer

Metaphor, Burden, Identity, Existence

12

"A sheep in wolves clothing!"

"A sheep in wolves clothing!"

Lailah Gifty Akita, Ghanaian Author

Metaphor, Sheep, Wolves, Clothing, Deception

12

"Sometimes I feel that our bright blue sky is like a pregnant women's belly."

"Sometimes I feel that our bright blue sky is like a pregnant women's belly."

Santosh Kalwar, Nepalese Poet

Metaphor, Nature, Imagination, Life, Wonder

11

"Men are like roses. You have to watch out for the pricks."

"Men are like roses. You have to watch out for the pricks."

Jill Shalvis, American Novelist

Metaphor, Caution, Observation, Humanity

11

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