The Mirror (4)

Here are four quotes about a mirror. In their own way, they provide a reflection about love.


"The mirror is a useless invention. The only way to truly see yourself is through someone else's eyes."
         ~Voltaire

Artwork by Daniel Rozin

From Lewis Carroll's, Through The Looking Glass:
There was a book lying near Alice on the table, and she turned over the leaves, to find some part that she could read, ` -- for it's all in some language I don't know,' she said to herself.

It was like this.
YKCOWREBBAJ

sevot yhtils eht dna ,gillirb sawT`
ebaw eht ni elbmig dna eryg diD
,sevogorob eht erew ysmim llA
.ebargtuo shtar emom eht dnA

She puzzled over this for some time, but at last a bright thought struck her. `Why, it's a Looking-glass book, of course! And if I hold it up to a glass, the words will all go the right way again."

This was the poem that Alice read.

JABBERWOCKY.

And from Steve Jobs:

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something...almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

From the movie, Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game Of Shadows. [Dr.Watson sends a letter to his wife in code (cryptogram) which is explained thus:]
  "If the first letter of the note is a consonant, then the letter is the mirrored truth."
  In the letter, Watson tells her, "He doesn't love her". Which of course is the exact opposite of what he means since the letter "H" is a consonant. Sometimes, like Alice in Through the Looking Glass we need to recognize that love is a language about which we really don't always know.Voltaire's words remind one of the Amish tradition of not keeping any mirrors in their home because a mirror shows a lack of humility. 
Steve Jobs' message is a reminder that a mirror can be used for something other than narcissism. It can be a reminder to do what you love...everyday.