“It is a conquest when we can lift ourselves above the annoyances of circumstances over which we have no control; but it is a greater victory when we can make those circumstances our helpers,--when we can appreciate the good there is in them. It has often seemed to me as if Life stood beside me, looking me in the face, and saying, "Child, you must learn to like me in the form in which you see me, before I can offer myself to you in any other aspect.” IfsLifeChildrenI CanFacesFormGreaterVictoryCircumstancesOffersAspectAppreciateLike MeLiftsHardshipConquestAnnoyanceHelpers Book:A New England girlhood Source: A New England girlhood
“With those organizations, it's like time travel. I just reach back and find little kids who were like me. Maybe the circumstances vary, but the formula is the same. They're having problems reading, having problems grasping some of the things that are being taught to them.” LittlesProblemKidsReadingTaughtCircumstancesOrganizationLike MeFormulasTime TravelLittle KidVaryGrasping Author:Malik Yusef
“All power within the microcosm of my world was held and wielded by people who look like me. Plus, I think Nigerians all have this sense that they are better than everyone, including white people. So I have the privilege of a certain distance. It may just be that. So in a sense, I can't claim that as any ability that I have, simply a matter of circumstance.” PeopleThinkingWorldLooksMayI CanMatterCertainAbilityWhiteCircumstancesClaimsDistanceIncludingPrivilegeLike MePlusMicrocosm Author:Chris Abani
“I think there are probably a lot of actors like me who I think probably struggle to feel comfortable in their own lives, and acting in some ways provides a safe context for them to live out emotions that they possibly repress or live out experiences that they are not afforded by virtue of circumstance.” ThinkingWayFeelsActorsActingEmotionStruggleVirtueCircumstancesSafeComfortableLike Me Author:Jesse Eisenberg
“In streams of light I clearly saw The dust you seldom see, Out of which the Nameless makes A Name for one like me... All busy in the sunlight The flecks did float and dance, And I was tumbled up with them In formless circumstance.” LightNamesSawsCircumstancesBusyLike MeDustStreamsSunlightFloatsNameless Book:Book of Longing Source: Book of Longing
“No one can say if you are that person who, given good paint, good brushes, and a fine canvas, can produce something better than the factory man. That is, and has always been, beyond the realm of science. You do have the attitude of the dreamer about you. For that reason, I haven't the heart to argue anymore about this - it is a hopeless talk. And for a simple factory man like me, an effort must be abandoned once its hopelessness is exposed. Only the artist perseveres in such circumstances. (193)” IfsMenHeartPersonsReasonArtistGivenSimpleEffortAttitudeHavensProduceFineCircumstancesPaintArguingLike MeRealmsHopelessExposedDreamerAbandonedFactoriesCanvasBrushesHopelessnessPersevereSomething Better Author:David Wroblewski