Quoting the Quote Queen

I have this friend who LOVES! quotes. In fact, when she got married, I'm pretty sure she registered for a quote dictionary. She has about 90,000 quote books and often adorns emails, envelopes, and messages with eloquent words about life as said by rather obscure people thousands of years ago.

I actually find this little quirk of her's rather charming. I've been thinking about this old friend (whom we'll call Layla) recently and thought I'd share a few of my favorite quotes with you in her honor. (NOTE: This is a not-so-subtle way of me insisting that said friend call me. She's been a slacker as of late. Yeah, I'm calling her out on the world wide web. That's how I roll.)

#1: Sidney Poitier, Measure of a Man

Freud once said that life is love and work. But if you do bad work, it can’t provide the meaning in your life that you need from it. I feel most critical of myself when I notice any trace of slovenliness in my work. My work is me, and I try my damnedest to take very good care of me… [pg 161]

#2: Keith Olbermann, MSNBC

The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion some may be correct. But do not do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say "no"- they may not be smart enought to say "yes."

#3 James Allen, As A Man Thinketh

To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.

#4 Rumi, 13th Century

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,there is a field. I'll meet you there.When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase "each other" doesn't make any sense.

#5 F. Scott Fitzgerald

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.

Lastly, for what it's worth, I really enjoy this poem. Any favorites out there I should know about or pass on my quote-fiend friend? (Now that I've played the quote game, maybe Layla will call, email, send a telegram, or courrier pigeon!)