Quote preview background for Nicanor Parra
WHAT DOES AN OLD MAN GAIN BY EXERCISINGwhat will he gain by talking on the phonewhat will he gain by going after fame, tell mewhat does he gain by looking in the mirrorNothingeach time he just sinks deeper in the mudIt__ already three or four in the morningwhy doesn__ he try to go to sleepbut no--he won__ stop doing exercisewon__ stop with his famous long-distance callswon__ stop with Bach with Beethoven with Tchaikovskywon__ stop with the long looks in the mirrorwon__ stop with the ridiculous obsession about continuing to breathepitiful--it would be better if he turned out the lightRidiculous old man his mother says to himyou and your father are exactly alikehe didn__ want to die eithermay God grant you the strength to drive a carmay God grant you the strength to talk on the phonemay God grant you the strength to breathe may God grant you the strength to bury your motherYou fell asleep, you ridiculous old man!but the poor wretch does not intend to sleepLet__ not confuse crying with sleeping
Nicanor Parra Antipoems: How to Look Better and Feel Great
Turn into a Quote Card

Quote Detail

WHAT DOES AN OLD MAN GAIN BY EXERCISINGwhat will he gain by talking on the phonewhat will he gain by going after fame, tell mewhat does he gain by looking in the mirrorNothingeach time he just sinks deeper in the mudIt__ already three or four in the morningwhy doesn__ he try to go to sleepbut no--he won__ stop doing exercisewon__ stop with his famous long-distance callswon__ stop with Bach with Beethoven with Tchaikovskywon__ stop with the long looks in the mirrorwon__ stop with the ridiculous obsession about continuing to breathepitiful--it would be better if he turned out the lightRidiculous old man his mother says to himyou and your father are exactly alikehe didn__ want to die eithermay God grant you the strength to drive a carmay God grant you the strength to talk on the phonemay God grant you the strength to breathe may God grant you the strength to bury your motherYou fell asleep, you ridiculous old man!but the poor wretch does not intend to sleepLet__ not confuse crying with sleeping
NP
Nicanor Parra

Antipoems: How to Look Better and Feel Great

Quick Answer

What this quote page tells you

This canonical quote page keeps the full saying, the attributed author, any linked work, and the topic tags together so the quote can be cited from one stable URL.

Related Quotes

More quote cards from the same area

"

They say revenge is a dish best served cold. This isn__ correct. Revenge is a dish best served lukewarm or at room temperature (depending on the room) with a side of sauerkraut lightly sprinkled with pepper, a generous helping of golden brown roasted potatoes, and a large loaf of marble rye, washed down with any kind of unfiltered wheat beer.But whatever you do__nd remember this, as it can be a matter of life or death__on__ put any sort of fruit in the beer. Fruit doesn__ belong in beer.

BS
Brian South

The Zombie Sheriff Takes Tucson: A Love Story