“Many analysts compare Turkey with countries in the Middle East, but I think we need to compare it with Russia. Both countries come from a tradition of empire, and also from a tradition of the strong state.” ThinkingNeedsCountryStatesStrongMiddleTraditionEastRussiaCompareEmpiresMiddle EastTurkeysAnalysts Author:Elif Safak
“I would like the refugee crisis to become a new beginning in the Turkish-European relationship. But it would be very problematic if, during this process, human rights were forgotten. Democracy needs to be the priority.” IfsNeedsHumansWould BeProcessDemocracyRightsCrisisForgottenHuman RightsPrioritiesRefugeeNew BeginningsTurkishRefugee Crisis Author:Elif Safak
“How can love be worthy of its name if one selects solely the pretty things and leaves out the hardships? It is easy to enjoy the good and dislike the bad. Anybody can do that. The real challenge is to love the good and the bad together, not because you need to take the rough with the smooth but because you need to go beyond such descriptions and accept love in its entirety.” IfsNeedsRealTogetherNamesEasyEnjoyCan DoChallengesLove IsAcceptingWorthyDescriptionRoughHardshipDislikeSmoothEntiretyPretty Things Author:Elif Safak
“I see what you mean. It must be a huge relief, and an easy way out, to think the devil is always outside of us. (…) we would stop looking for Sheitan outside and instead focus on ourselves. What we need is sincere self-examination. Not being on the watch for the faults of others.” (p. 257).” ThinkingWayNeedsMeanSelfEasyWatchesFocusHugeDevilFaultsReliefSincereExaminationEasy WaySelf-examination Author:Elif Safak
“Time is just an illusion. What you need is to live this very moment. That is all that matters.” NeedsMatterMomentsIllusion Author:Elif Safak
“No matter who we are or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete. It's like we have lost something and need to get it back. Just what that something is, most of us never find out. And of those who do, even fewer manage to go out and look for it.” NeedsFeelsLooksMatterLostManageWho We AreFewerIncompleteDeep Inside Author:Elif Safak
“If you want to destroy something in this life, be it an acne, a blemish or the human soul, all you need to do is to surround it with thick walls. It will dry up inside.” IfsWantNeedsHumansSoulInspirationLife IsMotivationWallThis LifeDrySurroundThickHuman SoulDry UpAcne Author:Elif Safak
“Moments are born and moments die. For new experiences to come to life, old ones need to wither away.” NeedsMomentsDiesBornNew Experiences Author:Elif Safak
