Matt > Matt's Quotes

“For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness.”
― James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues

“A revolutionary age is an age of action; ours is the age of advertisement and publicity. Nothing ever happens but there is immediate publicity everywhere. In the present age a rebellion is, of all things, the most unthinkable. Such an expression of strength would seem ridiculous to the calculating intelligence of our times. On the other hand a political virtuoso might bring off a feat almost as remarkable. He might write a manifesto suggesting a general assembly at which people should decide upon a rebellion, and it would be so carefully worded that even the censor would let it pass. At the meeting itself he would be able to create the impression that his audience had rebelled, after which they would all go quietly home--having spent a very pleasant evening.”
― Søren Kierkegaard, The Present Age

“Everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it.”
― David Foster Wallace

“Whatever you get paid attention for is never what you think is most important about yourself.”
― David Foster Wallace

“There's good self-consciousness, and then there's toxic, paralyzing, raped-by-psychic-Bedouins self-consciousness.”
― David Foster Wallace

“When things are at their blackest, I say to myself, 'Cheer up, things could be worse.' And sure enough, they get worse.”
― Robert Asprin, editor

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall take flack from both sides."- Unofficial UN Motto”
― Robert Lynn Asprin, Sweet Myth-Tery of Life

“C'mon kid. Think a minute, even if it hurts.”
― Robert Lynn Asprin, Another Fine Myth

“I wish to weep
but sorrow is
stupid.
I wish to believe
but belief is a
graveyard.”
― Charles Bukowski, What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire

“If you think this Universe is bad, you should see some of the others.”
― Philip K. Dick

“The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it he knows too little.”
― Mark Twain