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Quote#Wisdom

How shall the Shown pretend to ken aught of the Showman or the Show?

Quote byRichard Francis Burton · 1821–1890

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Kasîdah of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî (1870).

English (original)

How shall the Shown pretend to ken aught of the Showman or the Show? Why meanly bargain to believe, which only means thou ne'er canst know? How may the passing Now contain the standing Now — Eternity? — An endless is without a was, the be and never the to-be?

— Richard Francis Burton

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