"One can never consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar." -Helen Keller
This is one of my favorite quotes and I've dissected it below:
Keller's quote can be generalized to a vast population when describing its meaning; instead of being read as an intellectual line it should be examined, understood and remain as a part in every one's lives. Every being has a distinct mind and sees everything differently and therefore this quote can be understood or taken in various way. I think that when Keller wrote this she meant it in a very special and personal way.
Helen Keller grew up with a disability; she could not see, speak or hear. To her, every experience was a learning adventure; anything that anyone else might take for granted, like simply telling someone you are thirsty, was a task she had to learn and conquer. I believe Keller states this in her quote, and if I break it down into two halves, i can better explain what I mean.
First Part: "One can never consent to creep..." this means that an individual cannot give his/her consent to stay behind, or in other words, just sit there in the shadows doing nothing.
Second Part: "when one feels an impulse to soar." This half finishes the quote in a way that gives the first part a more meaningful meaning. One cannot give their okay to sit aside when they feel the urge to do more than just that, when one feels the desire to live out their dreams and dare to take a walk in the dark for the rest of their life in they have to, because even if you will never see where you are going, or hear, you can still feel. This is what I think Helen Keller meant with these inspiring words.
The reason this quote can be generalized to the public is because every individual has difficulties and triumphs, but some have difficulties that act as a crutch toward their goals.
Every one's challenges are unique and can only be completely understood by the person suffering to get ahead. I do not think that this quote should only have a special meaning to someone that has suffered immensely to reach a dream because of a disability. I believe it can have a special meaning to anyone that wants to get ahead in life and for some reason or another finds it difficult.
The only person that can allow you to not reach higher is yourself; because if you feel the desire to do something more, than there should not be anything stopping you. Helen Keller was very brave in taking the many challenges to reach her dreams, and she expresses this in her quote. I think that she knew that if she did not get ahead to the point where she wanted, she was the only one to blame. If this truly how she thought, I agree with her. I think her words are very inspiring in many ways and for every person.
Sapphire Blue
