“I could feel God. It was like he was setting fine fingerprints all over the moment. I could feel him in it, as if he were saying to me, “Girl, I’m gonna blow the hinges off anything you think a love letter is, was , or could be. If you would just release the grip, I could turn your whole like into a love letter.”
Source: If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers
“My beloved,
I write to you from Rawalpindi, with the help of a Turkic-speaking imam, a kind man with a twinkle in his eyes and a soft spot for lovers. Now two years after I left Chinese Turkestan, I am about to embark on a solo journey there to find you, and my heart shakes with both hope and dread.
If I do not find you, then I will leave this letter in our cave, and pray that God willing, someday, as you ride by, you will be moved by an inexplicable urge to see the place where we had been so happy.
I was a fool to leave. If you can forgive me, please come and find me in Rawalpindi. Ask for Arvand the gem dealer at the British garrison, and they will know where to direct you.
I enclose a bar of chocolate, a packet of tea from Darjeeling, and all my fervent wishes for your well-being and happiness.
The one who loves you, always”
Source: My Beautiful Enemy
“Bagaimanapun jalannya, sekali-kali jangan lelah untuk berusaha gigih membela semua yang baik.”
Source: Surat-Surat Kartini: Renungan Tentang dan Untuk Bangsanya
“There is no absolute formula for happiness—each unique condition of life can serve as the foundation for happiness in its own unique way. You can be happy when married with children, or when married without children. You can be happy when you are single, without a college degree, or with one. You can be happy when you are slim, you can be happy when you are overweight. You can be happy when living in a warm climate as in California, you can be happy when living in Montana, where you have severe winter conditions. As a sumo wrestler, you can be happy when you make it to yokozuna, or you can be happy while remaining one of the underdogs all your career, doing small chores, never giving up.”
Source: Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day
“Setiap orang tahu, bahwa pada umumnya gadis Jawa tidak diberitahu mengenai rencana perkawinan yang dibuat para pelindungnya untuknya. Dalam daerah Pasundan boleh jadi betul, bahwa anak perempuan dan anak muda yang bertunangan bisa saling mengenal, melihat, dan bertemu, tetapi tanyakanlah di tempat-tempat lain mana di Jawa hal itu terjadi.”
Source: Surat-Surat Kartini: Renungan Tentang dan Untuk Bangsanya
“Apa yang lebih menyedihkan daripada kehidupan kanak-kanak yang sengsara, apa yang lebih sengsara daripada anak-anak yang semuda itu harus menanggung kepahitan hidup?
Dan gadis-gadis terutama sangat susah hidupnya, karena mereka telah berada di tempat dimana alam setiap hari diperkosa. Bukankah itu memperkosa kodrat alam namanya, apabila perempuan harus tinggal dengan damai serumah dengan madunya?
Sungguh, anak bangsa itu sendiri, orang perempuan harus memperdengarkan suaranya! Masih akan dapatkah dengan tenang orang mengatakan "keadaan mereka baik" kalau orang melihat dan mengetahui semuanya, yang telah kami lihat dan kami ketahui itu?”
Source: Surat-Surat Kartini: Renungan Tentang dan Untuk Bangsanya
“Orang mencoba membohongi kami, bahwa tidak kawin itu bukan hanya aib, melainkan dosa besar pula. Telah berulang kali itu dikatakan kepada kami. Aduhai! Dengan menghina sekali orang sering kali membicarakan perempuan yang membujang!”
Source: Surat-Surat Kartini: Renungan Tentang dan Untuk Bangsanya
“As the Siamese says: "Pea rattles loud in empty head".”
“It's spooky how we'll never know how many people have died while trying to mail a chain letter.”
Source: Chip Chip Chaw!
“Simpati itu bagi kami merupakan kepuasan, kekuatan, bantuan, kegembiraan, hiburan.”
Source: Surat-Surat Kartini: Renungan Tentang dan Untuk Bangsanya