Quotations & Philosophy

Here I compiling my favourite pieces of philosophy. Just pieces of text that still have the ability to make me stop in the middle of a busy day, and reflect, smile or laugh. I hope they can do the same to you, let me know if they do - click here.

Number 1
    I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me.
    But it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world.
    Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once...and it's too much.
    My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst.
    And then I remember... to relax, and not try to hold on to it.
    And then it flows through me like rain.
    And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.
    You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Don't worry... you will someday.
                                Lester Burnham in the closing of American Beauty, writer Alan Ball. 1999
                                                                                                                [link to entire script!]

Number 2
    Both my wife and my daughter think I'm this gigantic loser.
    And they're right. I've lost something very important.
    I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I know I didn't always feel this... sedated.
    But you know what? It's never too late to get it back.
                                Lester Burnham in the closing of American Beauty, writer Alan Ball. 1999

Number 3
Some people are too scared or something to think things can be different. The world's not exactly...shit. I guess it's hard for some people who are so use to things the way they are - even if they're bad - to change and they kinda give up and when they do, everybody loses.
                                xxx in the closing of Pay it Forward, writer Alan Ball. 1999

Number 4
Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind;
you will not  understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….
You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…
the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children ,maybe you won’t,
maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…
what ever you do, don’t  congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either –
your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people
think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on.
Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get,
the more you need the people you  knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths,
prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old,
and when you do you’ll fantasise that when you were young prices were reasonable,
politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of  fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

                                Baz Luhrman from the song Sunscreen

Ok gotta dash 4 done 6 to go.... the challenge is on!