“Father, I am from a different egg than your other children. Think of me as a duckling raised by hens. I am not a domestic bird destined to spend his life in a chicken coop. the water that scares you rejuvenates me. For unlike you I can swim, and swim I shall. The ocean is my homeland. If you are with me, come to the ocean. If not, stop interfering with me and go back to the chicken coop.” IfsThinkingChildrenI CanDifferentFatherWaterLike YouOceanBirdRaisedEggsChickensSwimScareInterfereDestinedHomelandThink Of MeHensDucklings Author:Elif Safak
“Personally, I didn't think there was anything wrong with sadness. Just the opposite – hypocrisy made people happy and truth made them sad.” PeopleThinkingMadeSadnessOppositesHypocrisy Author:Elif Safak
“When I am writing political op-eds, I do think carefully about the impact of my words. When I am writing fiction, it's a different story. In my fiction I am more reckless. I don't care about the real world until I am done with the book.” ThinkingWorldWritingBookDifferentRealDoneStoriesCarePoliticalFictionImpactDon't CareI Don't CareReal WorldRecklessWriting Fiction Author:Elif Safak
“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 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
“I slept peacefully that night, feeling exultant and determined. Little did I know that I was making the most common and the most painful mistake women have made all throughout the ages: to naively think that with their love they can change the man they love.” ThinkingKnowsMenLittlesMadeFeelingsAgeNightCommonMistakePainfulDetermined Author:Elif Safak
“Bountiful is your life, full and complete. Or so you think, until someone comes along and makes you realize what you have been missing all this time. Like a mirror that reflects what is absent rather than present, he shows you the void in your soul—the void you have resisted seeing. That person can be a lover, a friend, or a spiritual master. Sometimes it can be a child to look after. What matters is to find the soul that will complete yours. All the prophets have given the same advice: Find the one who will be your mirror!".” ThinkingLooksChildrenPersonsHas BeensSoulSometimesMatterShowsSpiritualGivenRealizingSeeingAdviceMissingMastersLoversMirrorsYour SoulProphetVoidWhat MattersAbsentSpiritual Masters Author:Elif Safak
“Ways of loving from a distance, mating without even touching-Amor platonicus! The ladder of love one is expected to climb higher and higher, elating the Self and the Other. Plato clearly regards any actual physical contact as corrupt and ignoble because he thinks the true goal of Eros is beauty. Is there no beauty in sex? Not according to Plato. He is after `more sublime pursuits.' But if you ask me, I think Plato's problem, like those of many others, was that he never got splendidly laid.” IfsThinkingWaySelfProblemAsksSexGoalHigherRegardDistanceAmorExpectedPursuitContactAsk MeClimbsTouchingSublimePlatoLaddersErosMatingIgnoblePlato S Author:Elif Safak
“How can you blame others for disrespecting you when you think of yourself as unworthy of respect?” ThinkingBlameThink Of YouUnworthy Author:Elif Safak
