[Book Sip] Lee O-ryeong "The Mind Is Truly the Index of the Spirit"

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly resonate with the reader’s heart, creating a connection with the book. We have selected and introduced such meaningful sentences from books.

This is a compilation of words left by Lee O-ryeong, a young literary figure, arts administrator, and true educator who left a profound mark on the world as an intellectual and elder of his time. Following the wishes of Lee O-ryeong, who passed away in February 2022, we carefully selected content from hundreds of his books. "Collect the words that only I can say from the things I have said and written throughout my life and make a dictionary out of them."

We guide readers into the differentiated perspectives and insights of Lee O-ryeong.

The mind is indeed the index of the spirit.

The world always shows a new realm only after overcoming things that are painfully agonizing... The fact that you have tears means you have a soul, you have love, you love someone and long for them desperately, and you repent. Tears shed not for oneself but for others are as beautiful as a rainbow that appears after the rain stops.

If you work with values and vision, no matter how humble the task, it becomes an activity. In other words, the answer to action lies within ourselves.

Justice varies depending on one's position. But love has no position. There is no separate love of the South and love of the North. That is why we keep talking about love instead of justice.

Whenever you think and act, seek the grain. Following the grain of dreams, the grain of the heart, and the grain of life, you will see the earth, the sky, and the world will become much more beautiful.

Those who have never felt the coldness of life do not know what love is. The most unfortunate people in this world are those who have never been ill even once in their lifetime.

My son, have you seen the black hair of your father gradually turning gray? Have you seen the lips of your father that briefly show anger and then smile meekly? Have you seen the fingers that clench into fists but then open weakly like picking up Go stones?

Only while shedding tears can a human be pure. Yet people all feel embarrassed about that purity.

To call a name is to awaken what is asleep, to bring what is far closer, and to make the silent speak.

Why is the morning so beautiful? Because darkness still remains within that light. Why is the evening glow so beautiful? Because light still remains within the approaching darkness. A beautiful world where light and darkness coexist almost equally. That is the space Koreans have long endured and waited for. A pleasant time where digital and analog meet, the time of Koreans.

For the entire nation to share information together ? that is democracy. The common trait of countries that have collapsed, from monarchies to Nazis and communism, is that they blinded their people. The era of openness does not only mean market openness. Openness means enlightenment, where everyone opens their eyes and sees a bright world.

If it doesn’t roll and is easy to hold, the best is a pencil with six edges, between a circle and a square. That is why six-edged pencils have been the most common, both in the past and now. People say being round means being harmonious, but having no self-assertion is difficult to live with, and having only self-assertion is sharp and hard to live with. It’s neither a square pencil nor a round pencil. Write your life with a six-edged pencil.

You all should be like a cauldron placed between water and fire, not water or fire themselves, but an interface that beautifully prevents conflict and confrontation between two opposing values, harmonizing them. You must become the ‘I’ as an interface.

Words of Lee O-ryeong | Written by Lee O-ryeong | Segyesa | 408 pages | 22,000 KRW