“They are not free who drag their chains after them.” -French Proverb (Page 478)

I really enjoyed this quote because of the simplicity of it. The idea of moving on and freeing yourself from the past and moving on is very important. But if you hang on to your past and keep it with you it isn’t moving on. You move on once you have acceptance, and after acceptance you can evolve from it. The past and how you choose to deal with it and move on depends on how you move past it. If you are hurt in a previous relationship and you keep the hurt with you into a new relationship.

“The freedom and independence of the worker during the labor process do not exist.” -Karl Marx

Being the worker in any company you are never free to do or say as you please. No matter what every company has there on guidelines and rules on how they want there employees to act. This makes evidence of having freedom. Even though work is far from slavery and not as drastic but most work places do not want much diversity. Even fast food chains such as Chick-fil-a wants their employees to act and speak a certain way and even though slight things such as being overly helpful and polite is a good thing it is still a way to control people and keep them in check.

“Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” -Jean-Paul Sartre

This is my very out of all the quotes. As a black woman in this economy and state in age I am proud. But having a different skin color creates its own problems. How I choose to live my life good or bad depends on how i choose to conduct myself. I must always be better and better than most of my counterparts just because of society. But even when there in injustice to me I will always have to make sure i rise above and beyond all of it and come out better for it. Then i make up for the freedom given to me by my past relatives and activists.

“Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible” -Paul Klee

I really enjoyed this quote because of the repetition of visible. Art and beauty is something that is individually perceived. The best art is something that is eccentric and not very common. People use art to express not just pictures but emotions at hand. You don’t just want to make people see what you mean but to also feel what you created. Art is something that can be ugly to one person but be beautiful to other people. The photo I picked is what people believe the symbol of beauty is. Having a simple symmetric face is what makes people beautiful but just like art beauty is something you have to feel not see.

” No one has mastery before he is at the end of his art and his life.” -Michelangelo

I loved this quote because I always was a believer that people only care about you or appreciate you after you are dead and gone. When you work at your best and become the best you can be it is almost like you run out of time. Talent is something that is undeniable but can also be developed into something very beautiful. I believe there is life after death. An artist lives beyond their art and becoming a master in your field means dedicating your life to your craft. Artist are perfect examples of this and it shows. The universal appreciation that people have for art makes it immortal.

“For us artists there waits the joyous compromise through art with all that wounded us in daily life.” – Lawrence Durrel

The daily life of an artist has got to be hard. Any form of art is something that you can excel in and be educated in but it is not something that people take seriously. When kids are young they might want to be famous artists or designers or even dancers but because unless you become very successful at what you do, you will not make any money for it. The term starving artists can be very real for some people. To be a professional at doing art you have to be dedicated to it because it is not something you go into just for the hell of it. You go into it because it is something you are passionate about.

“Love must be as much a light as a flame.” – Henry David Thoreau

I really enjoy this quote because I believe there should always be a passion in love. Love and relationships have passion. Sometimes too much passion can start a fire. I love to feel loved and protected. Having love can also guide you to the better things in life. All the love in the world will give you the courage and boost to do the better things in life and want the better things in life. I love to feel the passion of love go around. That’s when individuals fight for love and what it means to them and it can be very beautiful.

“Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.” – Oscar Wilde

This is the quote that really inspired me. I loved this because I can put myself into tis quote so easily. I remember the love and joys of growing up with my mother. I not only grew up learning new things but so was my mother and learning about me. I also remember getting old enough to want to make my own decisions and thinking that all of the decisions made for me were wrong and being angry at my mother. When all she wanted to do was keep me safe and protected. But as I go through my own life ups and downs and even some similar to what my mother went through I know how not only insight to things but also a level of respect acquired for my mother because as I run away from some of my problems my mother stuck through them and became a even stronger woman. Do I forgive every situation and argument that we have had? No. But on the overall take away I can say that we are both strong woman and I forgive and understand a lot more now than I did before.

” If love is often cruel or destructive, the reasons lie not in love itself, but in the inequality between people.” – Anton Chekhov

This quote really applies to this world now. Lots of people in abusive relationships especially the abuser, uses love as an excuse. They use love as the factor or anger and jealously which can kill and lead to horrible relationships. Love can not hurt people. People hurt people then make excuses. Two people who are not compatible or use love in a negative light aren’t actually experiencing love and they are not having love for each other. The cruel things that happen never come out love. It will always come from evil and hate. Many people see the downside of love and hate on it from then on. But if you view it in a different way love can be very beautiful and happiness will appear from every angle of you life.

“From listening comes wisdom and from speaking, repentance.” – Jewish proverb

I really found this quote interesting. Fun Fact I always wanted to be Jewish because I wanted to be more invested into the holidays that are associated within that culture of Judaism. This quote reminds me of my mother a lot. I always felt as though she never listened to me and I feel like now that is the main thing I want to for other people. I remember being in Catholic school and going to confession with the priest. Giving the repentance of the sins, that you have made throughout the time from your last confession. Wisdom for me comes with not just age but experience. I think I am wiser from all the stuff I have been through in my life. My life hasn’t been easy but I have learned from my mistakes and try not to repeat. I speak only on the things I have experienced within an advice ratio not telling people what to do. At the end of the day you can only do what you can do.

“Wisdom begins in wonder” – Socrates

Wisdom is something that cannot be measured. Wisdom is something that is individually obtained. Everyone has a certain extent of curiosity that acquires you to venture and try new things. This gives off the wonders that the world has to offer. The further you extend your knowledge, you can gain answers to the unknown of life. Many inventors and scientist have gain insight by just having questions and wondering. This gives us the world we have today but the technology that has been built for us. This not being possible if these individuals didn’t try and try again from pure wonder.

“All religions are the therapies for the sorrows and disorders of the soul.” -Carl Jung

As a person who is more spiritual than I am religious I absolutely love this quote. I really believe that everyone needs something to believe in. All religion should be respected no matter what it is. Religion is the one thing that everyone runs to in a time of need. When bad times happen and they are out of human control people count on their religion to guide them out of things and in brings a universal comfort that is felt around the world. Unfortunately this isn’t respected around the world and people will fight about their religion and thinking one is more superior than the other. With lent coming I think about religion more and more. (Lent is the 40 day period between Mardi Gras and Easter) I practice certain traditional catholic practices. This is quote that I find I am more passionate about because of the importance it is to have something to hold onto in this crazy world.

“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful” -Mae West (Pg. 388)

I really do love this quote. Some people will argue and say too much of a good thing can be bad. But the truth is that it can be a good thing. If something is going good and it has a benefit in place then it will and should always be wonderful. Good things can come to an end but done properly that don’t have to. Good things all are up to each individual but they should always have a positive ending. Coming from May West I am not surprised this is her quote. She was a very charming, influential woman and a person who liked the finer things in this world.

“Behind every cloud is another cloud” -Judy Garland (Pg. 390)

I really love this quote because it really describes my life so well. I always feel like you can’t escape bad things in life because there is always more bad things to come. Knowing the story behind Judy Garland and her bad days this quote makes so much sense coming from her. As someone who has had bad days and felt that dark cloud upon myself and felt like there was no end to it. But even on cloudy days there can be good days within those. The clouds can be a metaphor for many things including depression and anxieties in life. This makes everyone feel different but together in feelings.

“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences” – Norman Cousins

Wisdom is something that in a way is built off of age as well. Anticipating consequences is part of growing up and learning from your mistakes is part of wisdom. I am unfamiliar with this person for this quote but it still is powerful to me. I very much think that wisdom come by experience and exposure to many different things gives you insight on how to avoid the bad and get to the good in life as well. Wisdom doesn’t always have to do with age but even just in experience with difference things creates wisdom.

“Passion makes the world go round. Love just makes it a safer place.” – Ice-T (Page 78 of the Art of Being Human)

Passion is what keeps people going even in times of love. Passion keeps not just relationships going, but keeps your passion for anything going. If you have a passion for your job or anything you will try harder. Love makes a place safe because when there is love there is no hate. Hate kills and make the world angry but where there is love is acceptance. Having a safe world is important but unrealistic. I hope that we can see a world that is passionate about loving to have a better place in life.

“If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.” – Emily Dickinson (Page 86 of The Art of Being Human)

The essence of feeling like you can have so much going that you are running around without your head seems like it makes so much. First reading the quote i was very confused. People will usually call a certain death poetic or a certain things poetry and i can see why. Ugly things can be beautiful when you change how you look at them. The physical act of not wanting to feel pain or anything is almost inspiring. This makes it poetic, and poetic things can be painful not just beautiful and this makes things unique.

“When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his experience.” – John F. Kennedy (Page 72 of The Art of Being Human)

I choose this quote mainly because i have a deep respect for John F. Kennedy. I really believe that not only was he a great president but he was a great man as well. He was alive when there was lots of unequaility in the country and this quote stuck out because of current evens now. The current administration to me does not care about the people but only about the power coming from it. The more you read and realize that history can repeat itself and that when people are more exposed to cultures and diversities that you learn to also respect it and appreciate it. Many people have not learned to respect each others differences, and it really shows.

“Jazz came to America 300 years ago in chains.” – Paul Whiteman (Page 176)(Art of Being Human)

This quote is so powerful to me. It really stuck out to me because as a black woman in this political climate it can be very challenging. I understand these struggles very fondly. Jazz is a very known genre to me. My mother is a big fan of jazz music. Artist such as Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis are just a few that are very known in this genre. As any genre of music multiple cultures try to infiltrate and make jazz there own. Unfornately the black culture does not get full credit for all the cultural aspects they provided and inspired of the course of many years. And in many ways they also do not get respect or the same amount of applause for the impact of music that they made.

“Blues are the songs of despair, but gospel songs are the songs of hope” -Mahalia Jackson (Page 180) (Art of Being Human)

People write and sing gospel song to create the hope that there is a god that takes mercy and gives us hope of an afterlife. Blues music almost does the opposite. Blues music sounds to me like negro spirituals. They tell more of a sad story. Gospel doesn’t have a big underlying story such as blues. Blues unfortunately is a very old timey genre of music. Gospel is much more current and accurate genre of music in current times.

“In a world of peace and love music would be the universal language” – Henry David Thoreau (Page 156) (Art of Being Human)

They always say music is the universal love language. Music is played during happy, sad and any occasion possible. Music is used in making fundraisers, carities and many other things to make the world a better place. Love to me is the care and consideration you put into. Music fulfils many different areas of life.

Today’s first quote will be by Tom Brokaw saying “Heroes are people who rise to the occasion and slip quietly away” Pg. 42 (The Art of Being Human)

My feelings about this quote is quite conflicting at the moment. My feelings towards heroes might be different than many others. There shouldn’t be a want for “fame and fortune” as a reward for doing something good in life. Being good and doing good things should come from within, not for an external purpose. Heroes aren’t selfish, inconsiderate or demanding. They genuinely want to help you and in your best interest.

“Don’t go backwards; you have already been there” – Ray Charles

I am actually a big fan of Ray Charles so I am not surprised he said this. I love this quote so much, because I always try not to look back of life. Being positive and stay positive is very hard. Human nature is the ability of memories and looking back is natural. But you know what is behind you, that is why the future is always a mystery. The act of being able to move on and better things to come will always be a goal in human nature.

“The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing knowledge” – Albert Einstein (Page 21)

This quote stuck out to me first before any other quote. I interrupted this quote to talk about not only apply to me being in college but to also represent my life. Fantasy and dreaming is something yu get to do as a child. Unfortunately, you cannot stay a child very long in this world. You are an adult much longer than being a child. But the knowledge you gain from growing up is something you can never replace. Knowledge and being book smart isn’t the only way you can be intelligent.

“Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act” – Truman Capote (Page 20)

I loved this quote because its such a good life saying. Life can be unpredictable and life isn’t easy at an age. The older you the more responsibility you have. And then at the end of this life you die with nothing. There can be so many good points in life. Kids, marriage, money, successful career, and family. The bad part is that if you don’t have all of this or some of these in a lifetime people with say you didn’t “fulfill” your whole life even though that may not be true. You can always change the course of your life if you really want to or have the passion to.

“You miss all the fun if you obey all rules” – Katharine Hepburn (Page 22)

Not only is Ms. Hepburn one of my personal favorite actors but also an inspiration to me. She embodies a lot of qualities I wish to gain. This quote is nothing different from how I feel. Rules are set mostly to set standards and to keep you safe. The rules are also not always correct. When you bend the rules it can be fun and led to many different ways of entertainment. Fun is exactly what you make it and breaking rules can be. Kids eat more candy then they are suppose to, you might sneak out of school to hang out with a boyfriend. All of these are part of life and having fun and living life to the fullest. No one who experienced the greater things in life followed all the rules all the time and that is okay.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of science” – Albert Einstein

“The future is not some place we are going to. but one we are creating.” – Deborah James

All of these quotes have something in common. The ability to describe different stages of life through quotes. All three authors are different in many ways. Some are from long away, males and females, and different word usage. The common phrase is the hope in the future that things will be different. Emerson describes keeping the “beautiful” and carrying that with us long term. Einstein describes the “beautiful” as a mystery and how sourced science is found. James describes the future as not just one destination but as a work in process.

The emphasizes on beauty and future make these quotes perfect for side by side comparison. Although these were written in different times by different people with different goals in mind they have the same theme. The theme of wishing for a better tomorrow and a better day. This theme is important because it keeps a bond between these quotes making them relatable and timeless. The timeless effort of theses quotes make them even more interesting to read and translate. Getting different ideas and opinions about one single quotes keeps the freshness and curiosity that each one of the quotes provides. Making them timeless literature quote.

Sincerely,

Victoria M.