#ren

Later that sweltering evening, I climbed into my tiny tent and lay down on top of my bedroll, twisting the lighter blanket around me mummy-style. Ren ducked his head in to check on me and laughed. “Do you always do that?” “Only when camping.” “You know bugs can still get in there.” “Don’t say that. I like to live in ignorance. ↗

— Colleen Houck

#ren #style

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat. ↗

— Rebecca West

#been #call #differentiate #doormat #express

You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children. ↗

— Madeleine L'Engle

#children #difficult #grown-ups #write #writers

Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes'. ↗

— Stephen Colbert

#optimism #wisdom #youth #strength

Oh, don't be a spoilsport. Gossip is sexy. Gossip is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should! ↗

— Cecily von Ziegesar

#serena #sexy

We say that flowers return every spring, but that is a lie. It is true that the world is renewed. It is also true that that renewal comes at a price, for even if the flower grows from an ancient vine, the flowers of spring are themselves new to the world, untried and untested. The flower that wilted last year is gone. Petals once fallen are fallen forever. Flowers do not return in the spring, rather they are replaced. It is in this difference between returned and replaced that the price of renewal is paid. And as it is for spring flowers, so it is for us. ↗

— Daniel Abraham

#death #renewal #seasons #death

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ↗

— Harriet Tubman

#always #begins #change #change the world #dream

There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less. ↗

— G.K. Chesterton

#satisfaction #serenity #happy

To grant all a man's wishes is to take away his dreams and ambitions. Life is only worth living if you have something to strive for. To aim at. ↗

— P.B. Kerr

#dreams #wishes #dreams

Oh my. He's English. "Er. Does Mer live here?" Seriously, I don't know any American girl who can resist an English accent. The boy clears his throat. "Meredith Chevalier? Tall girl? Big, curly hair?" Then he looks at me like I'm crazy or half deaf, like my Nana Oliphant. Nanna just smiles and shakes her head whenever I ask, "What kind of salad dressing would you like?" or "Where did you put Granddad's false teeth?" "I'm sorry." He takes the smallest step away from me. "You were going to bed." "Yes! Meredith lives here. I've just spent two hours with her." I announce this proudly like my little brother, Seany, whenever he finds something disgusting in the yard. "I'm Anna! I'm new here!" Oh, [Gosh]. What. Is with. The scary enthusiasm? My cheeks catch fire, and it's all so humiliating. The beautiful boy gives an amused grin. His teeth are lovely - straight on top and crooked on the bottom, with a touch of overbite. I'm a sucker for smiles like this, due to my own lack of orthodontia. I have a gap between my front teeth the size of a raisin. "Étienne," he says. "I live one floor up." "I live here." I point dumbly at my room while my mind whirs: French name, English accent, American school. Anna confused. He raps twice on Meredith's door. "Well. I'll see you around then, Anna." Eh-t-yen says my name like this: Ah-na. ↗

— Stephanie Perkins

#beauty