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I Quotes

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All I Quotes

“If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already. It is but a small matter whether you read with anyone or not. I did not read with anyone. Get the books, and read and study them till you understand them in their principal features; and that is the main thing. It is of no consequence to be in a large town while you are reading. I read at New Salem, which never had three hundred people living in it. The books, and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places.”

“If you are right, then everything we learned before and all the books we have, are wrong", said my students of biology in a class on academic writing, with expressions of trauma at what I was telling them. "But we use the same books as the students in the United States" they continued, trying to stop themselves from seeing the obvious truth. Because for those who have lived an entire life as a lie, the truth is indeed traumatic. You need a very high level of sanity to confront it, which is why I find it to be a funny coincidence when the crazy ones tell you that you are crazy for seeing the truth that they themselves are too afraid to analyze. They don't want to analyze it because, well, they may realize that the truth is true. They can't deal with such outcome. They would rather see you dead first.”

“If you are sad, love will make you happy; afraid, love will make you brave; weak, love will make you strong; and broken, love will make you whole.”

“If you are sad, ask yourself why you are sad. Then pick up the phone and call someone and tell him the answer to the question. If you don't know anyone, call the operator and tell him. Most people don't know that the operator has to listen, it is a law. Also, the postman is not allowed to go inside your house, but you can talk to him on public property for up to four minutes or until he wants to go, whichever comes first.”

“If you are searching for an open door, learn how to graciously move on. Not just to settle the score, but to discover where you truly belong. Sometimes, the greatest strength lies in letting go, embracing new open doors, and fulfilling purpose.”

“If you are seeking for security, certainty, your eyes will become closed. And you will be less and less surprised and you will lose the capacity to wonder. Once you lose the capacity to wonder, you have lost religion. Religion is the opening of your wondering heart. Religion is a receptivity for the mysterious that surrounds us. Don't seek security; don't seek advice on how to live your life.”

“If you are self-motivated, wow, this world is tailored for you. The boundaries are all gone. But if you're not self-motivated, this world will be a challenge because the walls, ceilings and floors that protected people are also disappearing. That is what I mean when I say "it is a 401(k) world." Government will do less for you. Companies will do less for you. Unions can do less for you. There will be fewer limits, but also fewer guarantees. Your specific contribution will define your specific benefits much more. Just showing up will not cut it.”