Only he who can view his own past as an abortion sprung from compulsion and need can use it to full advantage in the present. For what one has lived is at best comparable to a beautiful statue which has had all its limbs knocked off in transit, and now yields nothing but the precious block out of which the image of one's future must be hewn.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of having a critical and detached perspective on one's past. By comparing it to an imperfect and damaged statue, the quote implies that viewing the past as a product of compulsion and necessity allows for valuable lessons to be extracted. It suggests that by acknowledging the flaws and limitations of one's past experiences, one can utilize them as raw material to shape a better future. The quote emphasizes the idea of personal growth and the transformative power of understanding and learning from one's past actions.

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