“As teenagers, Marcus had been the muscle and Jake the brains. Marcus had beat up the kids who'd made fun of skinny Jake; Jake had convinced teachers not to punish him. Since then, Marcus had grown a brain (kind of) and Jake had developed muscles. But habits die hard.” KindMadeHardKidsDiesFunBrainTeacherHabitBeatsConvincedTeenagerMusclesSkinnyJake Book:Catch a Mate Source: Catch a Mate
“Sometimes people say to me, “I want to write, but I have five kids, a full-time job, a wife who beats me, a tremendous debt to my parents,” and so on. I say to them, “There is no excuse. If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait. Make the time now, even if it is ten minutes once a week."” PeopleIfsWantWritingSometimesKidsJobsWaitingParentForeverFiveWifeWeekMinutesTenBeatsResponsibleExcuseDebtLive ForeverNo ExcusesFull Time Jobs Author:Natalie Goldberg
“A guy's calling to say he's failing algebra II. Just as a point of practice, I say, Kill yourself. A woman calls and says her kids won't behave. Without missing a beat, I tell her, Kill yourself. A man calls to say his car won't start. Kill yourself. A woman calls to ask what time the late movie starts. Kill yourself. She asks, "Isn't this 555-1327? Is this the Moorehouse CinePlex? I say, Kill yourself. Kill yourself. Kill yourself.” MenKidsGuyAsksPracticeFailingCarMissingCallingLateBeatsBehaveAlgebraKilling Yourself Book:Survivor Source: Survivor
“The way to beat Luke," he said. "If I'm right, it's the only way you'll stand a chance." I took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm listening." Nico glanced inside my room. His eyebrows furrowed. "Is that...is that blue birthday cake?" He sounded hungry, maybe a little wistful. I wondered if the poor kid had ever had a birthday party, or if he'd ever even been invited to one. :Come inside for cake and ice cream," I said. "It sounds like we've got a lot to talk about.” IfsWayLittlesSaidKidsSoundChancePoorRoomsPartyListeningBeatsOkayBreathsBlueHungryIceCakeCreamInvitedIce CreamEyebrowsLukeDeep BreathBirthday PartyNico Di AngeloBirthday Cake Author:Rick Riordan
“You know what talent is? The curse of expectation. As a kid you have to deal with that, beat it somehow. If you can write, you think God put you on earth to blow Shakespeare away. Or if you can paint, maybe you think--I did--that God put you on earth to blow your father away.” IfsThinkingKnowsWritingKidsEarthFatherDealsTalentBeatsExpectationsPaintBlowCurse Book:Skeleton Crew Source: Skeleton Crew
“Kids are never the problem. They are born scientists. The problem is always the adults. They beat the curiosity out of kids. They outnumber kids. They vote. They wield resources. That's why my public focus is primarily adults.” ProblemKidsBornFocusBeatsAdultsResourcesVoteScientistCuriosityMind Blowing Author:Neil deGrasse Tyson
“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.” ChildrenKidsScienceBornNaturalWonderBeatsScientistLibertarianEnthusiasmCosmosVastness Author:Carl Sagan
“How many kids are in the Graveyard?" "A bunch." "Who sends your supplies?" "George Washington. Or is it Abraham Lincoln? I forget." "How often do you receive new arrivals?" "About as often as you beat your wife.” KidsForgetWifeBeatsBunchAbrahamSuppliesArrivalsGraveyardNew Arrivals Book:Unwind Unboxed: Unwind; Unstrung: an Unwind Story; Unwholly Source: Unwind Unboxed: Unwind; Unstrung: an Unwind Story; Unwholly
“He was the class clown, the court jester, because he'd learn early that if you cracked jokes and pretended you weren't scared, you usually didn't get beat up. Even the baddest gangster kids would tolerate you, keep you around for laughs. Plus, humor was a good way to hide the pain” IfsWayKidsPainClassLaughingBeatsJokesCourtScaredPlusTolerateClownGood WayCrackedGangstersJesterCourt JesterHiding Pain Author:Rick Riordan