Quotes

I love quotes. My facebook page is littered with them. It doesn't matter whether it's funny or serious, silly or profound--if a quote appeals to me, you can bet I'm going to share it somewhere. I especially like it when I find a quote that I can relate to or agree with.
One of the gifts I recieved yesterday was a daily planner (something which I've been needing...heh, did I ever mention I stink at orginization?) from my amazing, wonderful aunt. The planner itself is cool enough, but it also includes gorgeous illustrations of whimsical fairies...and quotes. My aunt also gave me a quote box to hang on my wall. It features a quote from Roald Dahl, and it reads, "Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in the magic will never find it!"
Truer words were never spoken, Mr. Dahl. No surprise that such a well-worded revalation came from the man who introduced us to the Big Friendly Giant and led us through Willy Wonka's marvelous Chocolate Factory. The above quote inspired me so much that I decided to share some of my favorite quotes with you--both from my new daily planner, and from other sources. I hope you find some of them as inspiring as I do.
This one is usually attributed to Voltaire, but in fact it was a quote about him, summing up his view of the world, rather than by him. You may have heard it before: "I disagree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Then there's the ever-wonderful Mark Twain. He's remembered as a beloved humorist and author, but one need look no further than his masterpiece, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," to see that he could also be very profound. One of my favorite quotes of his shows that he was an excellent judge of character: "“A man's character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation."
Here's one that applies more to the creative side of things, and thus fits perfectly on this blog: "How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."--Thoreau. I've talked before about how artists must adopt a unique view of the world, and it seems Thoreau agrees. For instance, how can you possibly create a believable, well-motivated villian for your novel when you yourself haven't encountered a few real-life imps and demons?
From my new daily planner comes a quote from St. Frances De Sales. It is a tender affirmation for those of us who have had our kindness mistaken for weakness: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."
And lastly for today is a quote which applies to all of us--and everything we've ever created, nurutred, or cared for: "The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
Thank you, Nelson Henderson. Thank you.