Ellina Romanova

“The bacha posh parallels throughout countries where women lack rights are neither Western nor Eastern, neither Islamic nor un-Islamic. It is a human phenomenon, and it exists throughout our history, in vastly different places, with different religions and in many languages. Posing as someone or something else is the story of many women and men who have experienced repression and made a bid for freedom.

It is the story of a gay U.S. Marine who had to pretend he was straight. It is the story of a Jewish family in Nazi Germany posing as Protestants. It is the story of a black South African who tried to make his skin lighter under apartheid. Disguising oneself as a member of the recognized and approved group is at the same time a subversive act of infiltration and a concession to an impossible racist, sexist, or otherwise segregating system.”
― Jenny Nordberg, The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistan

“A budget is people telling their money where to go instead of wondering where it went.”
― Dave Ramsey, The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

“I mastered the most important lesson of sales: If someone likes the product, but doesn't like you, they won't buy it; if, on the other hand, they're not crazy about the product, yet they like you, well, they may buy it anyway. In business, you need to sell yourself first. It's all about impressions.”
― Robert K. Wittman, Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures

“I once heard a church sermon in which the priest said you could tell most of what you needed to know about a person from looking at their bank and credit card statements. How they prioritize their spending will tell you how they prioritize their life. So it was with companies.”
― Philip Delves Broughton, Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School