Wait and Hope
....all human wisdom is summed up in these two words,--'Wait and
hope'.
Alexandre Dumas
Are they three words or two? Of course, it depends on how you view the connecting word. Silly nitpicking aside, at a surface level, this seems to make a lot of sense and appears an optimistic view of the world.
But I read it as a very cynical statement. Personally the two-word statement I value the most is attributed to Socrates. KNOW THYSELF. So profound and so true. Such distilled wisdom.
Knowing myself is a lifelong journey and in the meantime I shall wait and hope my work lets up a little and I have more time for some more things.
Comments and faves
Jelena1, COMALA, elledino, Ravages, and 75 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Boggy (77 months ago | reply)
A lovely photo - the hidden source of light, yet still shining in!
Gauri V (77 months ago | reply)
nice capture and meaningful write-up!
bruce sinclair (77 months ago | reply)
it's nice - i HOPE you had boots on ;)
idogu (77 months ago | reply)
excellent light! lovely
Supriya O (77 months ago | reply)
Welcome back, Pandiyan!! Beautiful picture!! Love the sun beams shining through the woods!!
bosorka [deleted] (77 months ago | reply)
This is beautiful the light is magic!!!
Jelena1 (77 months ago | reply)
wonderful shot Pandiyan! I especially like the amazing light coming through!
namq (77 months ago | reply)
Wonderful, surreal photo.
(1-2-3 Nature)
Marko_K (77 months ago | reply)
Nice shot
(1-2-3 Nature)
COMALA (77 months ago | reply)
This place gives peace. Thanks
annabellafranc [deleted] (77 months ago | reply)
Lovely light !!!
Velachery Balu (77 months ago | reply)
Its good to see the photo and read the writing. Refreshing, Pandiyan
Calovi (77 months ago | reply)
Welcome back! What a shot! It is always a pleasure to be able in them to delight with its thoughts and photos.
RaGardner4 (77 months ago | reply)
This is so beautiful! I love the rays of light peeking through.
1-2-3 Nature
babasteve (77 months ago | reply)
beautiful...
Bulsti (77 months ago | reply)
Absulote beautiful!
(1-2-3 Nature)
Reciprocity (77 months ago | reply)
Wonderful to see you back and on top form again Pandiyan. More thought provoking and challenging words. It could take a while before I can comment further.
Have an 'excellent' to be going on with. ;-)
shivanayak (77 months ago | reply)
nice shot Pandiyan. Have u got to see Algo, he is expert in frezing the light rays
baby7 (77 months ago | reply)
Perfect and so nice shot Pandiyan!
Pandiyan (77 months ago | reply)
Thanks a lot folks for visiting, commenting and marking this as a favourite. I am grateful for all the wonderful words which greeted me as I went AWOL for a while.
It is difficult to resist a sight like this. This photo was taken in Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai one of the foremost technical education institutes. It has a wonderful campus - lots of woods, wandering deer, colourful butterflies, numerous birds and so many other things. Sad I never got a chance to study there.
shiva - You are right. Alex has fantastic shots of scenes like this. He is a real master.
...andrew (77 months ago | reply)
great work with the light! love the atmosphere here
LaserGuided (77 months ago | reply)
Speaking of two words: "Beautiful shot!"
tawfique [deleted] (77 months ago | reply)
wow!!!
algo (77 months ago | reply)
Lovely scene - nice sunbeams.
Thank you for the link - alas I have no Indian sunbeams, like this one, more's the pity.
I found this photo in 3-2-1
42n81 > Anti-Inanity (77 months ago | reply)
you found some proper shade there :-)
quite a pleasant space for inspiration and relaxation!
my husband is simmering a soup that he is concocting with coconut milk / fresh curry leaf / lemon grass / basil / shrimp (and some other ingredients in a broth, and the same with chicken instead of shrimp.
so our home smells so very good right now . . .
:-)
Saaj (77 months ago | reply)
well reading "YOU" it looks like a perfact spot to "wait and hope that you know thyself"
A space where one can follow the rays or await the darkness.
All the best for capturing right moods of INDIA.
Ravages (77 months ago | reply)
my personal two word philosophy: Everything's good.
Great photo Pandiyan, and the words are good too!
--Steve (77 months ago | reply)
Well said. And well photographed. And well thought out. (It is nice to come across someone with depth)
edifica (77 months ago | reply)
Makes me Feel in Armony With Nature!
Monika N. (77 months ago | reply)
Magical light! Beautiful shot, Pandiyan.
(Don't work too much ^-^)
Lynn Morag (77 months ago | reply)
What beautiful light with inspiring words! Like you, I am hoping work lightens soon so I have more time to enjoy things like this on Flickr!
[zen52] away (77 months ago | reply)
:) beautiful light... magnificent shot !!
Sabinche (77 months ago | reply)
beautiful! reminds me of a spot on madeira.
Rongzoni (77 months ago | reply)
perhaps this inspires in us deep memories of ancestral pasts where more mystery abounds and where only natural light illumines -- where it may have been harder to "wait and hope" since to act was required for survival -- well perhaps not so different.
Velachery Balu (77 months ago | reply)
Congratulations, Pandiyan. Your photo figures in 32nd slot of Explore of 28.01.2006.
flickr.com/explore/interesting/2006/01/28/pag e4/
Velachery Balu (77 months ago | reply)
By the time I posted my message, your photo moved to 28th slot.
Pandiyan (77 months ago | reply)
I am grateful my dear friends for all kind words. I am sorry I am unable to keep with all this with the limited time I give to Flickr these days.
Kathy - Coconut milk? Kerala influence? Or am I too parochial to automatically link the two!
Alex - I was checking the link to your 'Cathedral' shot and found the knockout shot you have posted today. Inspirational - both the shot and the effort.
barna - Very difficult for me to live upto that! But thanks for the sentiment. I am waiting for your stream to grow.
edifica - Eternal human struggle (to my mind) is being different from nature and trying to be one with it. We will never see the end of it, I think.
Monika - You seriously think I enjoy being a cog in the corporate wheel!
Lynn - You know the feeling. Good luck!
Sabinche - I remember your wonderful madeira set. But I thought it was much more cheerful and bright.
Rongzoni - It is wonderful to have your words and thoughts grace my page. Thanks.
Balu - Thanks so much for pointing out. Your comment must be so powerful that it pushed it four places!
Ravages - Many times I do think there is lot of merit in keeping things basic and simple like you.
Saaj - Yes, this is a many splendoured nation. And it is beyond many of us put together to showcase it. But, yes, let us try.
Laserguided & tawfique - Thanks for the short and sweet comments.
BlueMusing & zen52 - It was a beautiful morning. Thanks for the appreciation.
tableau (77 months ago | reply)
Good title and shot, the rays of light are very ominous.
june... (77 months ago | reply)
Wise words with a glorious capture... makes one "hear" sweet music...
jinxmcc (77 months ago | reply)
Pandiyan, I have just discovered your flickr photos, and am appreciating very much the wonderful scenes and the insightful comments. "Wait and hope" seems to me the wisdom of age. In youth I might have thought it defeatist. I'm now in my 60s, and have seen several cycles of change. Wait and hope needn't mean passivity; I think that while we work for betterment we need patience and hope to keep our spirits fresh.
Pandiyan (77 months ago | reply)
Thanks tableau and June. Isn't it amazing how natural scenes such as this spark everyone's imagination.
Jinx - Thanks for your wise words. I can never forget the significance of Pandora's story which underscores the fact that hope is only blessing all of us have at any point of time and at all times and what a precious possession that is. When I noticed a hint of cynicism in 'wait and hope' perhaps it is my own projection after all!
I brought in Socrates because Dumas was mentioning w&H as the ultimate wisdom and I think differently.
wifeofvolsfan (77 months ago | reply)
The light shining down is fantastic -- looks like a relaxing place!
Riverside Dreamer (77 months ago | reply)
WOW, fantastic shot! Gorgeous!
peggy. (77 months ago | reply)
such incredible light -- so well composed!
artphoto2005 (77 months ago | reply)
I like the use of light in this image
mutbka (77 months ago | reply)
Nice rays of sunlight. I always feel bad when I see a scene like that and don't have my camera(s) on me. Good thing you did.
As for your temporary staying way from Flickr - see it as a long deserved subaticle. I am not too frequent here either. But still hanging around. Just come back. You know where to find us! ;-)
hs_yin (77 months ago | reply)
wonderful!
digitaleye81 (77 months ago | reply)
magical. where is this ?
jasperroz (77 months ago | reply)
Very nice.
innusa (77 months ago | reply)
Great capture!!