"Oh, Kaye!" chats about quotes

Who doesn't love quotes?

I have a friend who can pull quotes out of the air.  Is able to name who said it, when and where.  Quotes from movies seem to sit somewhere close by just waiting to be spoken and shared again.

I envy that so much.

The best I can do is know I've read, or heard words in a movie or a song, that resonated.  Then, usually, I have to research to remember the where and the when, and the by whom.

Sometimes I'll be reading and something will jump out at me.  Not necessarily something that I'd try to retrieve later as a quote, but a passage that speaks to me, and speaks so loudly it's one I want to share immediately.  To read aloud to anyone who happens to be close by.  Usually that would be Donald or Harley (Harley is surprisingly interested in almost anything I say to him.  Especially if I begin with the word "cookie.")  But I have been known to type a passage and share with a friend I think might also appreciate it.  This is especially true of poetry.


When Pat Conroy died I picked up my copy of his "My Reading Life."

I read and I cried.

To know that he'll never again write a single passage, not one single word, ever again, broke my heart.  Still breaks my heart.

But, my heart is happy that he wrote what he did and that I can, forever and always, read words he wrote that don't just speak to me, but sing.  

He is, I think, the most quotable person ever born, and this piece started out to be just a few quotes from him I wanted to share.

When I realized there was no way I could pick only a few I decided to change course.

Change course, but stick to quotes and passages that I've enjoyed over the years.

And again, I realized there was no way to choose just a few unless I set a limit.

The limit started with one.

Pfftt.

Sure.

Okay, move it up to two . . . 


Not gonna work.


So.  Finally . . . 

Finally, I decided to stop at three.

But.

Three from different sources.  From books, poetry, movies, music and the theater of politics.

See how easy it is to get around the limits one sets upon oneself?


So.


I've finally chosen a few words that have left their imprint on me in one manner or another.  They're not here, necessarily, because they're earth shattering, or brought forth an epiphany of some sort, but because at some time I found the words to be memorable - mostly this in the case of movies - just plain and simply memorable.

Some of these are quotes or passages which I feel sure many of you are also familiar with.

In return, Dear Reds, I'd like to hear some of your own favorites.

Books -

“Every book has a soul, the soul of the person who wrote it and the soul of those who read it and dream about it.”
― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Angel's Game

“Every time we start thinking we're the center of the universe, the universe turns around and says with a slightly distracted air, 'I'm sorry. What'd you say your name was again?”
― Margaret Maron, Bootlegger's Daughter

“I've been treating you with courtesy and respect because that's the way I choose to treat everyone. But never, ever mistake kindness with weakness.”
― Louise Penny, Still Life

Poetry -

“I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. ”
― Mary Oliver

“Today I am 65 years old. I still look good. I appreciate and enjoy my age. A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it. You still bring to bear all your prior experience, but you are riding on another level. It's completely liberating.”
― Nikki Giovanni

“You can have the other words-chance, luck, coincidence, serendipity. I'll take grace. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll take it. ”
― Mary Oliver

Political -

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
― Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
― Elie Wiesel

“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Music - 

"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. Nothing ain't nothing, but it's free."
― Me And Bobby McGee, written by Kris Kristofferson

"The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls."
― The Sound Of Silence, written by Paul Simon

“And any time you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain / Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders / For well, you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool / By making his world a little colder”

― Hey Jude, written by Paul McCartney

Movies -

"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
Network, 1976

"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."
All About Eve, 1950

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

Dirty Dancing, 1987

Now, even though I've done what I said I was going to do, I find I cannot end this without something from Pat Conroy after all.

A few years ago, Authors 'Round the South contacted members of SIBA with a promotion idea for their upcoming convention.  The promotion was called "Parapalooza, Paragraphs Worth Spreading."  Several people read from their own novels, and/or a favorite novel written by someone else.  

Besides reading a passage from my "Whimsey," I also read a favorite passage from Pat Conroy's "Beach Music," which you can see here:

And - you can see more Parapalooza here:
http://www.authorsroundthesouth.com/read-this/parapalooza