“The Iron Rule of prudence for an Istanbulite Woman: If you are as fragile as a tea glass, either find a way to never encounter burning water and hope to marry an ideal husband or get yourself laid and broken as soon as possible. Alternatively, stop being a tea-glass woman!” IfsWayWaterBrokenHusbandIdealsGlassesBurningTeaEncountersIronFragilePrudenceIdeal Husband 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
“What i’m saying is, my friends, one ought to be able to let go. If a path does not please us, instead of insisting on going that specific way, of making our selfishness the guide, we ought to forsake. The books we cannot write, the films we cannot shoot, the projects we cannot develop, the jobs we cannot pursue and the people who no longer love us. Being able to let go, at times, is the most beautiful of all!” PeopleIfsWayWritingDoeBookAbleJobsBeautifulFilmPathOughtPleaseLetting GoProjectsMy FriendsGuidesPursueSelfishnessForsakeInsisting 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
“Yeah, we should all line up along the Bosphorus Bridge and puff as hard as we can to shove this city in the direction of the West. If that doesn't work, we'll try the other way, see if we can veer to the East. It's no good to be in between. International politics does not appreciate ambiguity.” IfsWayShouldTryingDoeHardLinesCitiesAppreciateYeahWestInternationalEastBridgesAmbiguityPuffBosphorus Author:Elif Safak
“To each his own way and his own prayer. God does not take us at our word. He looks deep into our hearts. It is not the ceremonies or rituals that make a difference, but whether our hearts are sufficiently pure or not.” WayLooksHeartDoeDifferencesPrayerPureMaking A DifferenceRitualCeremonyOur Words Author:Elif Safak
