This beautiful simile captures the fleeting, uncertain nature of existence. It portrays life as a delicate, momentary state, full of movement and energy, yet without a clear, pre-ordained purpose. It invites contemplation on our immediate presence and the mystery of being.
Quote by Julio Cortázar: “Life, like a hummingbird, suspended in the instant, vibrating without knowing why.”
Life, like a hummingbird, suspended in the instant, vibrating without knowing why.
Insight
Historical Context
From 'Historias de cronopios y de famas,' published during the early 1960s, a time of rising existentialist thought and experimental art. Cortázar used playful metaphors to explore profound questions about the absurdity and beauty of life, challenging readers to find meaning in the ephemeral.
About the Author
Argentine novelist and short story writer, a central figure of the Latin American Boom, celebrated for his experimental novel Hopscotch and his inventive, labyrinthine short fiction. He lived most of his adult life in Paris, where he remained an outspoken critic of Latin American dictatorships.
View all quotes by Julio Cortázar