Jorge Luis Borges

Coloring the Unwritten Page of Your Life

The second half of the quote—“color it without apology”—urges us not only to be truthful, but also unabashedly vivid. Color here stands for passion, eccentricity, and the specific shades of desire that make one life distinguishable from another. Just as painters like Frida Kahlo used intense colors to render inner pain and joy inseparable, we, too, are invited to live in unmuted tones. To color without apology means declining to dim ourselves for others’ comfort, choosing instead to inhabit our choices fully, even when they clash with conventional palettes of success or respectability. [...]

Walking the Hidden Landscapes of Thought

Borges’s invitation to “build maps of your thoughts” suggests that our inner life is not a formless fog but a terrain that can be charted. Like a cartographer sketching coastlines and mountains, we can trace recurring ideas, fears, and desires, noticing how they connect. In Borges’s own stories, such as “The Garden of Forking Paths” (1941), thoughts form labyrinthine structures, hinting that mental maps are complex, branching patterns rather than simple lines. By turning vague impressions into something diagrammed and deliberate, we begin to see where we have actually been thinking, not just where we imagine ourselves to be. [...]

Mapping the Unknown Through Careful Passage

The phrase “careful passage” provides the method by which the unknown becomes familiar. Borges does not celebrate reckless leaps or blind faith; instead, he advocates deliberate movement—small, attentive steps through uncertainty. Just as early navigators in the Age of Discovery hugged coastlines and recorded every bay and shoal, we too transform confusion into knowledge by moving slowly enough to notice patterns. This patient approach recalls the scientific method: observation, hypothesis, test, revision. It also echoes Buddhist walking meditation, where mindfulness of each step gradually reveals the terrain of one’s own mind. The transformation is mutual: as we traverse the unknown, not only does the territory become clearer, but our capacity for perception deepens. [...]

Act Decisively and Take Risks — Jorge Luis Borges

This perspective aligns with existentialist ideas, where individuals must create meaning through their choices and actions in the face of life’s impermanence. [...]

Act in the Day, and You Will Get Your Success - Jorge Luis Borges

The quote suggests that consistent effort and discipline lead to success. Hard work during the day, a time associated with productivity, results in achievements. [...]

One Can’t Choose Their Battlefield, but One Can Choose Their Weapons - Jorge Luis Borges

This quote highlights that life often presents us with challenges and situations that are beyond our control. We may not get to choose the circumstances we face, but we can decide how we respond to them. [...]

The Unique Influence of Human Connections - Jorge Luis Borges

It emphasizes the uniqueness of each person. Each individual we meet has distinct qualities and experiences that shape who they are, and in turn, influence us. [...]