#ren

To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive. ↗

— Robert Louis Stevenson

#individualism #preference #independence

Independence isn't doing your own thing; it's doing the right thing on your own. ↗

— Kim John Payne

#independence

Mother." Alec's voice as he interrupted his mother was firm, implacable, and not unkind. "Father. There's something I have to tell you." He smiled at them. "I'm seeing someone." Robert Lightwood looked at his son with some exasperation. "Alec," he said. "This is hardly the time." "Yes, it is. This is important. You see, I'm not just seeing anyone." Words seemed to be pouring out of Alec in a torrent, while his parents looked on in confusion. Isabelle and Magnus were staring at him with expressions of nearly identical astonishment. "I'm seeing a Downworlder. In fact, I'm seeing a war—" Magnus's fingers moved, quick as a flash of light, in Alec's direction. There was a faint shimmer in the air around Alec — his eyes rolled up — and he dropped to the floor, felled like a tree. ↗

— Cassandra Clare

#city-of-ashes #parenting

Persistence. Perfection. Patience. Power. Prioritize your passion. It keeps you sane. ↗

— Criss Jami

#living #passion #patience #peace #perfection

It is much more valuable to look for the strength in others. You can gain nothing by criticizing their imperfections. ↗

— Daisaku Ikeda

#strength-of-character #value-in-a-person #criticism

One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are. (Steve Jobs) ↗

— Walter Isaacson

#think-different #job

Kronos couldn't have risen if it hadn't been for a lot of demigods who felt abandoned by their parents," I said. "They felt angry, resentful, and unloved, and they had a good reason." Zeus's royal nostrils flared. "You dare accuse-" "No more undetermined children," I said. "I want you to promise to claim your children-all your demigod children-by the time they turn thirteen. They won't be left out in the world on their own at the mercy of monsters. I want them claimed and brought to camp so they can be trained right, and survive." "Now, wait just a moment," Apollo said, but I was on a roll. "And the minor gods," I said. "Nemesis, Hecate, Morpheus, Janus, Hebe--they all deserve a general amnesty and a place at Camp Half-Blood. Their children shouldn't be ignored. Calypso and the other peaceful Titan-kind should be pardoned too. And Hades-" "Are you calling me a minor god?" Hades bellowed. ↗

— Rick Riordan

#hades #percy-jackson #zeus #parenting

If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if you behave properly wit those holding divergent views from you or who criticize you, then you deserve to be credited with having an excellent character. (p. 99) ↗

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

#differences #islam

It isn't normal to know what we want. It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement. ↗

— Abraham Harold Maslow

#psychology #self-awareness #understanding #achievement

Loyalty was a great thing, but no lieutenants should be forced to choose between their leader and a circus with elephants ↗

— Neil Gaiman

#loyalty #temptation #temptation