On Parables
Many complain that the words of the wise are always merely parables and of
no use in daily life, whih is the only life we have. When the sage says:
"Go over," he does not mean that we should cross to some actual place, which
we could do anyhow if the labor were worth it; he means some fabulous
yonder, something unknown to us, something that he cannot designate more
precisely either, and therefore cannot help us here in the very least. All
these parables really set out to say merely that the incomprehensible is
incomprehensible, and we know that already. But the cares we have to
struggle with every day: that is a different matter.
Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed
the parables you yourselves would become parables and with that rid of your
daily cares.
Another said: I bet that is also a parable.
The first said: You have won.
The second said: But unfortunately only in parable.
The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost.
Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir
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