Thursday 18 April 2013

Q is for "Quote...Unquote". Healing with words. Day 17. #atozchallenge


quote |kwōt|verb [ trans. ]repeat or copy out (a group of words from a text or speech)

Whether they originate from ancient philosophers or the latest celebrity, we like to use quotes to confirm and give credibility to our beliefs and values. Quotes have inspired people to take action, make changes create new perceptions or quieten the chatter of busy minds. After I publish this I am sure I will think of many, many more I could have shared. Here are a few that jumped out at me from one time or another.   

"You don't have to suffer continual chaos in order to grow" - John C Lilly 


"Some people walk in the rain. Others just get wet." - Roger Miller


"A crisis event often explodes the illusions that anchor our lives" - Robert Veninga

"Live as you will have wished to have lived when you are dying" - Gellert 


"I wish I drank more champagne" - John Maynard Keyes 


"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows, select only things that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable, originality is non existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Goddard said: "it's not where you take things from- It's where you take them to." Jim Jarmusch


Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar. Bradley Miller


"Life is not a struggle it's a wiggle" - Peter McWilliams in An alphabetical guide to transcendental meditation... 


“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life:  It goes on.” – Robert Frost


I used to doodle lots of star, at about the age of 8 I drew one and wrote Me in the centre. In the points I wrote the letters I R M H I, can you guess what they stood for? I hope you enjoy my selection of quotes.  Let me know what your favourites are. (these or your own)



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Find out how I chose my theme by reading the intro blog A-Z challenge list. Words of change.  Please add more words to the list in the comments - and with gratitude, I'll link your words back to you.


22 comments:

  1. I'm doing quotations for Q too. I bet a lot of bloggers are... I love inspiration through words. You have some good ones listed above--not the run-of-the-mill quotes!

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  2. Some great quotes! I really like the one about stealing from other places, although I'm not sure copyright laws would agree. ;-)

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    1. I love that one too, of course there is a touch of 'that's not entirely the right attitude' about it, but I didn't write it and inspiration is not stealing - the key is authenticity and I find it helpful to remember that if I can think it, someone, sometime, somewhere has thought it too...

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  3. I'm very glad to have read these quotes.
    I like the Robert Veninga one best. I have lived it.
    And the Jarmusch one - how liberating and inspiring!

    Cheers,
    Uttley

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    1. Thank Uttley, I have never heard the message of the R.Veninga's quote expressed as simply or powerfully anywhere else before, living thru it is a gift... and both quotes in the Jarmusch one make me smile and feel the same way :)

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  4. I thought it was an ok film too, but I loved that it was based around Jane Austen books, and it made me think I need to read more. I imagine your thesis would have been fascinating. I have always wished I was organised enough to keep a record of every quote that ever spoke to me, but I do jot or dashboard them every so often...

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  5. Yes the little caterpillar crawled her way in moments before I pressed published, it always reminds me of my parents. Next I feel dusty I'm going to thank you and Pablo now for inspiring me to create art instead...

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  6. Hi Zoe, I'm glad you did too... I love both the crisis quotes I think they belong together. I love how a quote can help. I hope your intense situation (and your city's) is handled with calm and yields good results.

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  7. I really loved the Flannery O'Connor and the Robert Frost quotes! Those really spoke to me. And of course, that caterpillar one really cracked me up! Great post! :-)

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    1. Thanks Lexa. Your reaction cracks me up, I love that these words spoke to you. Life goes could possibly be the truest words ever spoken.

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  8. I don't recognize any of the quotes you listed, though several are quite good. I don't tend to you use quotes much, think that's because I don't remember them. Often I'll read one and think...wow, that's really good, I should remember that; but don't.

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    1. I tend to have one or two that are current and relevant for me that seem to keep popping up until the next one comes along. They are easily forgotten, but also easily remembered for me.

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  9. Good idea but I can't steal. It goes against everything I stand for: Original and creative--new and as unique as possible. I agree that most everything has been done in one form or another, but we have to search our hearts and speak about what we find pasted on the wall.
    That being said, I love to read quotes and have e-sticky notes and regular sticky notes with quotes all over my computer. Great post Ida.

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    1. I couldn't agree more, and I wish I could take out one line of his quote... and I will always give credit, whether I am just inspired or use someone's idea's. I like to think his meaning is the same as your description about speaking from our hearts even if we are afraid that's it's been done before.

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  10. Oo, good one today, Ida! I love that Flannery O'Connor quote. That's me. Writing helps me understand myself so much more!

    SiouxsiesMusings

    #AtoZChallenge

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    1. Thanks Susan, that was a new one I found recently that hit a spot for me too. Your writing helps me understand myself more too :)

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  11. I also love quotes, so thanks a lot, nice Q.
    #atozchallenge
    maggie at expat brazil

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  12. Sometimes we need quotes to remind us of things too. :P I see so many quotes floating out there on the interwebs. :) Thanks for keeping it real. I especially liked this one "Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination."

    Jamie Dement (LadyJai)

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    1. I've had that quote floating around for a few years now, and I wish it didn't suggest stealing without credits, but I focus on the inspiration side of it, and more on the taking it from nature than other people, we each get out of it what we will :)

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  13. What a great quote, everything is perception. You've got the first three words right - I'll let you know tomorrow. I think I have finally worked out that Quo Vardis means - where are you going...

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  14. When I was looking at the theme of revenge (a big theme in my manuscript), I came across quite a lot of Count of Monte Cristo quotes.

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    1. I went back up checked if I used any Count quotes, now I have to head to google... I'm going for unrequited love as a theme in mine

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Feedback and your own stories are welcome.