Julian Winters > Quotes

“To every LGBTQIA+ person who has questioned their place in life: You're strong. You're important. You're a lion. Let the world hear you roar.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“Why do people let things so precious to them turn into dark, unbearable secrets?”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“The future is only grim because people see it that way. It's unpredictable. Life is a summer storm of insecure thoughts. There's an umbrella of precautions to prevent insecurity, but it doesn't always keep the rain out of your face.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“You are not defined by who you love.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“Guys are beautiful. And girls are handsome. Words aren’t gender-specific.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“Some tears aren't for wounds. Some are for healing.”
― Julian Winters, Right Where I Left You

“Acceptance has an amazing effect on people who pretend they don't need it.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“We have no control over what labels others give us, but we can define who we are by the ones we choose to give ourselves.”
― Julian Winters, How to Be Remy Cameron

“But being a teenager is one good day of being a superhero, followed by a hundred days of being self-conscious about every little damn thing. It's one big, selfish moment when you don't give a shit about other people's opinions, but you still want your friends to love who you are and what you do.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“High school is just like the night sky. It's beautiful. Some moments, you're just in awe of it. But it's dark and endless, which can be scary, too. When the stars fall away, what's left?... The sun... Darkness goes away, but the sun shows up and you start over again. So let high school happen, and eventually, you light up the rest of your life. Burn as bright as you want. The wonderful thing about the sun is, it's always there. People don't have to see you to believe you'll be there.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“If you're watching Scooby Doo and think of someone because it's their favorite cartoon. If you're allergic to flour but still eat someone's burnt pancakes. Or if you hate the color green but you wear it because it reminds you of a person's eyes just before you kiss them - well, it might be love.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“the one thing that’s missing for him: respect. Not acceptance. Because that would mean Sebastian wants people to approve of him. Of his affection for Emir. He’s not searching for that brand of recognition. He wants people to respect him regardless of who he falls for.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“The thing about coming out is you’re so focused on making sure who you are doesn’t hurt or change your relationship with your loved ones that you never really think about yourself. About your moment. About how wonderful it is to just . . . be.”
― Julian Winters, Right Where I Left You

“If the worst thing you do in this lifetime is fall in love with your best friend, then I'd say you're doing pretty damn good.”
― Julian Winters, The Summer of Everything

“He’s been working toward saying something to Emir. He’s just not there yet. And rehearsing “Hello” and “I love you” in the bathroom every morning isn’t helping.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“No one should lessen who they are for anyone. That's how the world stays balanced - everyone has at least one gift and at least one flaw.”
― Julian Winters, The Summer of Everything

“And that's the thing, life is sometimes just another day, and sometimes it's moment after moment that only paralyzes you if you let it.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“Let life happen. All the plans we make are not guaranteed.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“The sky spits out stars as time slips between them.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“For everyone who hasn't figured it all out yet: You're okay. You'll get there. Never stop dreaming. Enjoy the moment.”
― Julian Winters, The Summer of Everything

“The thing about coming out is you're so focused on making sure who you are doesn't hurt or change your relationship with your loved ones that you never really think about yourself.”
― Julian Winters, Right Where I Left You

“Is it weird,” he says outside a teashop, “that I feel so safe here?” I lift a curious eyebrow. “Everyone looks like”—his eyelashes flutter when he inhales—“like me.” All around, there are gorgeous shades of brown. Rich dark complexions. Warm sepia skin and cool russet tones. Different faces, body shapes, each person carrying their own swagger. For once, Reiss and I aren’t two Black boys in a pale sea, like at Willow Wood. Here, Reiss doesn’t stand out. He’s one of us.”
― Julian Winters, Prince of the Palisades

“Life is sometimes just another day, and sometimes it's moment after moment after moment that only paralyzes you if you let it.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“Don't carry today into tomorrow.”
― Julian Winters, The Summer of Everything

“For all those who are too afraid to dream big—I dare you to believe in yourself. Win when the world expects you to lose.”
― Julian Winters, As You Walk On By

“I don't want to live my life behind a mask with no one to share who I am with.”
― Julian Winters, Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise

“... she grins and says, “Because I know greatness. I’ve seen greatness. It always starts with mistakes. With failure. With growth. You shouldn’t be ashamed to be a rebel, my prince. Rebels won our people’s freedom. Celebrate who you are.”
― Julian Winters, Prince of the Palisades

“After Dimi and the Summer of Emo-Music Hell, I decided that it was time to just be Remy, single and focused and chill-as-eff. No more trips to Boyfriend Land for me.”
― Julian Winters, How to Be Remy Cameron

“Bastian, you can do whatever you want, when you want. The only thing in life you have to do is live it.”
― Julian Winters, Running with Lions

“— Ce que je veux dire, c’est que tu en as découvert un peu plus sur toi-même. Tu le fais tout le temps. La vie est un voyage, Rembrandt. Tu n’en connais rien, à dix-sept ans. Ou même quand tu es adulte. En fait, je pense que, quand tu sais enfin qui tu es, l’univers arrête l’horloge et c’est la fin du voyage.”
― Julian Winters, How to Be Remy Cameron