Why has the pleasure of slowness disappeared?
To celebrate the end of a seven year war, this New Palace of 450 statues was built.
“Where have they gone, those loafing heroes of folk song, those vagabonds who roam from one mill to another and bed down under the stars?” Milan Kundera, Slowness.
Finishing this book by Kundera invoked memories of my recent trip to Sans souci in Potsdam, Germany. Evident by the title, Kundera’s book reflects upon taking things slow. Similary, Sans Souci means “without a care” in French. The book Slowness is paradoxically a quick read compared to other Kundera literature and the trip to the Sans souci grounds is a fast 30 minute train ride from most major Bahn stations in Berlin.
Speed is the form of ecstasy the technical revolution has bestowed on man. – Kundera
If you are a long-time reader of my blog, you can realize that I am a strong proponent of slowness. I know that life is short, but I intend to take my time enjoying it!
The expansive grounds of Sans souci park and palaces.
Kundera’s wit intertwines two stories of seductions in two highly separated periods of time.
“Being loved without meriting it is the very proof of real love.”
“Does nudity symbolize the greatest of all values, or the greatest filth to be pitched like an excrement bomb onto a crowd of enemies?”
Sans souci, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
“There is a secret bond between slowness and memory, between speed and forgetting…the degree of slowness is directly proportional to the intensity of memory; the degree of speed is directly proportional to the intensity of forgetting.”
I hope your summer is slow and satisfying!
Current read: A Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.
I like this quote:
“There is a secret bond between slowness and memory, between speed and forgetting…the degree of slowness is directly proportional to the intensity of memory; the degree of speed is directly proportional to the intensity of forgetting.”
I do things in speed. I feel like I would lose time if I’d slow down. But I came to realize, nothing was really finished and I actually lost time–the quality time with my kids, especially.
Thanks for this thought provoking piece!
Doing things in speed gets things done fast yes, but if we speed through life, we miss what is of true value in our lives. Good thing you realized to spend quality time with the kids!
Beautiful, beautiful! And love the photos you’ve shared here too.
Summer hasn’t been slow – it’s been terribly hectic at work and I’m hoping I can slow down once again to recalibrate…
I am sorry to hear that your summer has not been the best pace thus far! I will send good vibes to you in hopes things for you will be more relaxing.
Thank you Frances. What a lovely meditation. Weaving your pictures with Kunderas words works beautifully.
Many thanks for visiting and I wish you a wonderful summer!
“There is a secret bond between slowness and memory, between speed and forgetting…the degree of slowness is directly proportional to the intensity of memory; the degree of speed is directly proportional to the intensity of forgetting.” – beautiful, just beautiful words
I have a different notion of ‘slowness’ though that is somewhat synonymous to ‘procrastination’. Hehe
You are funny my dear! Slowness is definitely related to procrastination…I’m guilty of this!
Why can’t I click your ‘like’ button anyway? 😦
boohoo…I don’t know!
Great post. I moved recently and life has slowed down for me a lot. I take a lot of long walks and just look at the birds and wild horses near my house for ages. Back in the city I was always on the go.
Happy to know you are taking things slower…life should be savored =)
What lovely photos – I love slow walks, slow food, slow reading… Hope your summer is slow and wonderful too!
Thank you for visiting…here’s to lazy summers — cheers!
Slowness is something that I’ve needed to learn. I’m getting better at it, but still need to remind myself. Hope you’re having a fabulous summer!
Slowness takes practice amidst this go-go-go world =)
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thank you for the Kundera quote!
“Where have they gone,
those loafing heroes of folk song,
those vagabonds who roam from one mill to another
and bed down under the stars?”
Milan Kundera, Slowness.
Kundera spins philosophy into poetry so well
Great photos. Now that it is mid-August it feels like summer is slipping away so quickly. I try to hold on to that summer feeling late into September.
Hope you’re having a great summer.
I am having wonderful summer holidays! Thank you for visiting 🙂