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Quote by Susan Vreeland

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Luncheon of the Boating Party

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Susan Vreeland
Susan Vreeland

Susan Vreeland is an American author known for her deep insights into art history and the lives of women. Her works often revolve around the lives of artists, particularly female artists, and she brings a delicate touch to the portrayal of their inner emotions and complex experiences. Born on January 20, 1946, Vreeland's writing career was inspired by her passion for art and history. more

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“The Nobodies Who are not, but could be. Who don't speak languages, but dialects. Who don't have religions, but superstitions. Who don't create art, but handicrafts. Who don't have culture, but folklore. Who are not human beings, but human resources. Who do not have faces, but arms. Who do not have names, but numbers. Who do not appear in the history of the world, but in the police blotter of the local paper. The nobodies, who are not worth the bullet that kills them.”

“Fleas dream of buying themselves a dog, and nobodies dream of escaping poverty: that one magical day good luck will suddenly rain on them-will rain down in buckets. But good luck doesn’t rain down yesterday, today, tomorrow, or ever. Good luck doesn’t even fall in a fine drizzle, no matter how hard the nobodies summon it, even if their left hand is tickling, or if they begin the new day with their right foot, or start the new year with a change of brooms. The nobodies: nobody’s children, owners of nothing. The nobodies: the no ones, the nobodied, running like rabbits, dying trough life, screwed every which way. Who are not, but could be. Who don’t speak languages, but dialects. Who don’t have religions, but superstitions. Who don’t create art, but handicrafts. Who don’t have culture, but folklore. Who are not human beings, but human resources. Who do not have faces, but arms. Who do not have names, but numbers. Who do not appear in the history of the world, but in the police blotter of the local paper. The nobodies, who are not worth the bullet that kills them.”

“La mala racha" Mientras dura la mala racha pierdo todo. Se me caen las cosas de los bolsillos y de la memoria: pierdo llaves. lapiceras, dinero, documentos, nombres, caras, palabras. Yo no se si será gualicho de alguien que me quiere mal y me piensa peor, o pura casualidad, pero a veces el bajón demora en irse y yo ando de pérdida en pérdida, pierdo lo que encuentro, no encuentro lo que busco, y siento mucho miedo de que se me caiga la vida en alguna distracción. "When Luck Runs Out” During streaks of bad luck, I lose everything. Things fall out of my pockets and my memory: I lose keys, pens, money, documents, names, faces, words. I don’t know whether someone wishes me harm and has put the evil eye on me or whether it’s pure happenstance, but sometimes this slump just won’t end and I lose one thing after another. I lose what I find, I can’t find what I’m looking for, and I’m quite afraid of losing life through some little hole in my pocket.” Eduardo Galeano: El libro de los abrazos (The Book of Embraces)”

“Curious People Soledad, five, daughter of Juanita Fernandez: “Why don’t dogs eat dessert?” Vera, six, daughter of Elsa Villagra: “Where does night sleep? Does night sleep here under the bed?” Luis, seven, son of Francisca Bermudez: “Will God be angry if I don’t believe in him? I don’t know how to tell him.” Marcos, nine, son of Silvia Awad: “If God made himself, how did he make his back?” Carlitos, forty, son of Maria Scaglione: “Mama, how old was I when you weaned me? My psychiatrist wants to know.”

“Da Un Amore di Fine Secolo. In un palco di proscenio alla Metropolitan Oper House di New York. Frank Raleigh sedeva alle spalle di Camille e, come ipnotizzato, faceva correre con lentezza gli occhi su quanto la sua vantaggiosa posizione gli offriva. Capelli di seta, una nuca da accarezzare, spalle tonde e perfette, una schiena elegante e sinuosa avvolta in un abito che, nella sua mente, Camille avrebbe dovuto indossare solo per lui e poi togliersi, solo per lui. Ma era sul collo di Camille che il desiderio di Frank Raleigh si era soffermato durante il primo atto di Traviata: così delicato e bianco, un’irresistibile tentazione per le sue labbra. Il valzer finì, l’atto finì, il sipario si chiuse. E, per una frazione di secondo, il teatro fu avvolto da un buio morbido come il velluto. Fu in quel momento di totale, invitante oscurità, che Frank Raleigh agì con l’istinto aggressivo del predatore che era. Calò le labbra sul collo di Camille e ne assaporò senza delicatezza la morbidezza e il profumo, lasciandole un segno rosso e umido di desiderio sulla pelle. Nel buio del teatro risuonò un esterrefatto e alquanto sgomento «Oh!» E quando dai globi di cristallo la luce riapparve tremula a illuminare la grande platea, Frank Raleigh sorrise fra sé, soddisfatto del suo gesto sconsiderato e poco signorile. Perché, nell’espressione di Camille, che ora lo fronteggiava rossa in viso, furiosa e intimorita, aveva percepito la luce inconfondibile del piacere. «Non osate mai più fare una cosa del genere» sibilò lei a labbra strette, mentre con la stola di seta tentava di celare il marchio che le labbra di Raleigh le avevano impresso sulla pelle. «Al contrario, oserò ancora» sussurrò lui, piegandosi appena appena verso di lei mentre applaudendo fingeva entusiasmo per gli artisti. «E non immaginate neppure quanto vi piacerà.»”