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Quote by Elizabeth Strout

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Anything Is Possible

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Author

Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout

Elizabeth Strout (born January 6, 1956) is an acclaimed American author known for her nuanced portrayals of small-town life and human complexity. Born in Portland, Maine, she grew up in a literary family. Strout won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009 for her novel 'Olive Kitteridge,' which was adapted into an award-winning HBO miniseries. Her other notable works include 'Amy and Isabelle,' 'The Burgess Boys,' and 'Anything Is Possible.' Strout's writing often explores themes of loneliness, family, love, and loss through the lives of ordinary people. She is praised for her concise yet powerful prose and deep psychological insight. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and have a global readership. more

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“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled with anxiety. To him, the approach of school days was like a monster that threatened him and wanted to squash him. What is a parent supposed to do? I tried to lift his spirits, to distract him, convince him it was not as bad as it seemed, but in vain. Then I hit upon the idea of offering him something that is almost taboo in our family: French fries at a fast-food place. Usually anything that is prohibited appeals to Emilio, especially junk food. I thought I had the ace up my sleeve. But no. Emilio's reply ought to be chiseled in stone: "Dad, you don't solve problems with french fries." Touche. You don't pretend problems do not exist, and you can't solve them with ephemeral distractions. You have to face them with open-eyed honesty. Offering French fries to my son in order to console and distract him from his anxiety was by no means a kind act. I was simply choosing the easier option--far too easy. I had found a comfortable way out.”

“The stoics divided philosophy into three branches: logic, physics, and ethics. Logic covered not only the rules of correct argumentation, but also grammar, linguistics, rhetorical theory, epistemology, and all the tools that might be needed to discover the truth of any matter. Physics was concerned with the nature of the world and the laws that govern it, and so included ontology and theology as well as what we would recognize as physics, astronomy, and cosmology. Ethics was concerned with how to achieve happiness, or how to live a fulfilled and flourishing life as a human being. A stoic sage was supposed to be fully expert in all three aspects.”