In front of the photograph of my mother as a child, I tell myself: she is going to die: I shudder, like winnicott’s psychotic patient, over a catastrophe which has already occurred. Whether or not the subject is already dead, every photograph is this catastrophe.
ROLAND BARTHES
ROLAND BARTHES
Roland Barthes on mom
Roland Barthes94 quotes“In front of the photograph of my mother as a child, I tell myself: she is going to die: I shudder, like winnicott’s psychotic patient, over a catastrophe which has already occurred. Whether or not the subject is already dead, every photograph is this catastrophe.”
More from Roland Barthes
Where you are tender, you speak your plural.
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Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Who speaks is not who writes, and who writes is not who is.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes In an initial period, Photography, in order to surprise, photographs the notable; but soon, by a familiar reversal, it decrees notable whatever it photographs. The ‘anything whatever’ then becomes the sophisticated acme of value.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes He who reads a story only once is condemned to read the same story his whole life.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Television doomed us to the Family, whose household instrument it has become-what the hearth used to be, flanked by the communal kettle.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Literature is the question minus the answer.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Touch is the most demystifying of all senses, different from sight which is the most magical.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Why is it better to last than to burn?
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes Language is neither reactionary nor progressive; it is quite simply fascist; for fascism does not prevent speech, it compels speech.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes I am interested in language because it wounds or seduces me.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes The lover’s fatal identity is precisely this: I am the one who waits.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes The book creates meaning, the meaning creates life.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes A paradox: the same century invented history and photography. But history is a memory fabricated according to positive formulas, a pure intellectual discourse which abolishes mythic time; and the photograph is a certain but fugitive testimony.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes The politician being interviewed clearly takes a great deal of trouble to imagine an ending to his sentence: and if he stopped short? His entire policy would be jeopardized!
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes I passed beyond the unreality of the thing represented, I entered crazily into the spectacle, into the image, taking into my arms what is dead, what is going to die.
Roland BarthesRoland Barthes
Original quotes
From our community writers
Don’t compare her to sunshine and roses when she’s clearly orchids and moonlight.
Melody LeeMelody Lee Oh moonlight, continue to shine on me. As you light up the sky, maybe some peace will come to me.
ShamaShama Stop counting the reasons why they should be loved and start counting the many reasons why you are the one who is worth loving.
Ayaka HaseAyaka Hase Sure, there are oceans and seas and magnificent things – but none of them are you.
L.T. PhoenixL.T. Phoenix I wish you the wildest of dreams.
Kate WestKate West The way you look at me, The way you make me feel whole, The way you make me feel safe, thats poetry to me.
Barbara GianquittoBarbara Gianquitto You cannot leave and have me too I cannot exist in two places at once-when you ask if we can still be friends.
Rupi KaurRupi Kaur Live to be happy not to impress.
Hayley EvansHayley Evans
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More on mom
Everyone thinks their mom is a superhero, and l feel like I want to be just like my mom. A superhero. She’s a very strong lady.
Rita OraRita Ora My mother is a great source of advice and wisdom and consolation for me.
Katherine HeiglKatherine Heigl I go to him as a baby goes to his mother so that he can fill me and invade all and take me in his arms.
Elizabeth of the TrinityElizabeth of the Trinity Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear… Imitation is a far stronger principle with children than memory. What they see has a much stronger effect on their minds than what they are told.
J. C. RyleJ. C. Ryle I know my father and my mother, but beyond that I cannot go. My ancestry is blurred.
V.S. NaipaulV.S. Naipaul I would not be a good mother. I mean, I love being an aunt to my niece and nephew. And I used to want to, like, adopt 10 kids – because I had friends who were adopted, and I thought that was the coolest thing, to be chosen. But again, my job is too selfish.
Kelly ClarksonKelly Clarkson I started piano when I was four. My mom taught me. And then I went to Manhattan School of Music during high school, like every Saturday. And then I went to Berklee for college, in Boston.
Charlie PuthCharlie Puth I am a better mother for having something in my life and not just my children.
Katherine HeiglKatherine Heigl