The article reflects on a pivotal correspondence between Rainer Maria Rilke and a young admirer, Franz Kappus, in 1903. At the time, Rilke was struggling creatively and financially. Kappus, seeking guidance on lifeâs doubts, especially about love, received an enlightening response from Rilke. Instead of providing direct answers, Rilke encouraged Kappus to embrace uncertainty by loving the questions themselves, suggesting that it's more important to live through the experiences than to rush towards solutions. This advice has resonated with many influential figures throughout the years, emphasizing the value of introspection and patience.
"I want to ask you, dear sir, as best I can, to have patience about everything that is still unresolved in your heart; try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms, like books written in a truly foreign language."
"Don't look for the answers now: they cannot be given to you yet because you cannot yet live them, and what matters is to live everything."
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