Cecily Von Ziegesar Quotes

Powerful Cecily Von Ziegesar for Daily Growth

About Cecily Von Ziegesar

Cecily von Ziegesar is an acclaimed American novelist, best known as the creator of the popular young adult drama series, "Gossip Girl." Born on June 15, 1970, in St. Louis, Missouri, she spent her early years immersed in literature, courtesy of her mother, a librarian, and father, an English professor. This literary upbringing would significantly influence her future career. After graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in English Literature, von Ziegesar moved to New York City, where she began work on "Gossip Girl," a series that would captivate millions worldwide. The first book, "It's a Sin to Have This Much Fun," was published in 2001, followed by five more novels. The series centers around the lives of privileged teenagers in Manhattan's Upper East Side, narrated by an omniscient blogger named 'Gossip Girl.' The success of "Gossip Girl" led to a spin-off television show that ran from 2007 to 2012 on The CW. While the series deviated significantly from von Ziegesar's original vision, it solidified her status as a leading voice in contemporary young adult literature. Von Ziegesar continues to write and publish works that explore themes of love, power, and identity. Her latest novel, "A Modern Love Story," was published in 2019. Despite the controversy surrounding some aspects of her work, von Ziegesar's ability to create compelling narratives with complex characters has secured her a lasting place in contemporary literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The only thing that can truly break your heart is another human being."

This quote emphasizes the profound impact that interpersonal relationships can have on an individual's emotional well-being. It suggests that while various life events, such as loss of a job or health issues, may cause distress, it's the emotional connections we share with other humans that have the potential to cause deep and lasting pain - 'heartbreak.' This poignant observation underscores the power of human relationships and their capacity to both nurture and wound us.

"And so it goes: The more you love someone, the harder it hurts when they leave."

This quote by Cecily von Ziegesar suggests that the intensity of emotional pain one feels when a loved one departs is directly proportional to the depth of their affection. In other words, those who deeply care for someone tend to experience greater anguish upon separation compared to casual acquaintances. It serves as a poignant reminder that love, while beautiful and fulfilling, can also bring profound sorrow when lost.

"Life was full of surprises; people did things that you never in a million years would have expected."

This quote by Cecily Von Ziegesar suggests that life is unpredictable, often unfolding in ways we could never anticipate. It emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind as individuals may act or make choices that seem unexpected, reminding us to embrace the unexpected moments and changes that life brings our way.

"It's better to be loved and hated than to be ignored."

This quote emphasizes the value of being noticed over anonymity, suggesting that it's more desirable to inspire strong feelings - whether positive or negative - than to remain unnoticed or invisible. It implies that passion, even when it manifests in disapproval, can be more meaningful and impactful than indifference. Being loved or hated allows one to establish connections and make a mark on others' lives, whereas being ignored means not having an opportunity to do so.

"In the end, everything has a way of working out, as long as you can remember who you are and what you want."

This quote underscores the importance of self-awareness and perseverance in navigating life's challenges. It suggests that by remaining true to oneself and clear about one's goals, one can overcome obstacles and achieve success. In other words, it implies that our inner strength, identity, and purpose guide us toward a fulfilling resolution, regardless of the complications we may face along the way.

Even now, I change my style and clothes from one day to the next, but during high school I blended in. I think a lot of people are that way. I guess that's why I can write about an array of characters.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Next, One Day, I Think, Blended

I went to Colby College in Waterville, ME and did picture it when I was writing 'Cum Laude.' So many of the physical details were included, like the loop where people jogged. The story of the chapel is also borrowed from Colby... but the students and cast of characters are fictional.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

College, Students, Cast, Fictional

But I've always been fascinated with that prettiest-girl-in-the-class person that I never was, getting inside her head and showing that she's just as tormented and messed up as everybody else.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Messed Up, Always, Been, Tormented

Recently my publicist asked me for a college photo, and I realize how chubby I looked. I know this sounds totally shallow, but my advice is don't fall prey to the freshmen fifteen!

- Cecily von Ziegesar

College, Prey, Fifteen, Chubby

'Gossip Girl' came out in rapid succession over two years, so the endings always had to be suspenseful so that you couldn't wait for the next one.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Succession, Always, Over, Endings

I feel like 'Gossip Girl' isn't really 'Gossip Girl' anymore when they're away at school because they don't go to NYU; they go to, like, Yale and Brown. New York City is just as much a character as anyone else in the books, and I was really sort of reluctant to show them off in their separate college worlds.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

College, Away, Worlds, Yale

Back in my days as a children's book editor, my superiors caught on to the fact that teenagers were using the Internet to gossip about each other, and thought it might be nifty to develop a series of books about an anonymous high-school blogger who gossips about her classmates. The concept was passed on to me.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Fact, Other, Caught, Anonymous

I'd never really babysat. I feel like I'm Blair, or 'Gossip Girl.' A teenager, basically - and now suddenly I'm a mom?

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Mom, Feel, Like, Teenager

My biggest fear in writing 'Gossip Girl' was that the characters would sound like stereotypical rich, air-headed heiresses. These were my friends. They were smart and multifaceted. They had interests and passions. They wanted to become lawyers and doctors and writers and filmmakers.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Lawyers, Sound, Had, Passions

My high school wasn't a big public school; it was tiny. There were 36 girls in my graduating class. We were a big group of girls that by the time senior year came along couldn't wait to get away from school fast enough but we loved each other. It's really fun to see the girls at reunions now.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Wait, Big, By The Time, Graduating

I avoid the young adult section altogether if possible, although it's sometimes fun to catch a girl lying on the floor, reading 'Gossip Girl.'

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Reading, Young, Sometimes, Young Adult

I used to be an editor and I was editing young adult series. I didn't really like the books that I was reading, so I decided that I would write a book about something I'd want to read if I was 16. It turned into a Cinderella story... I developed a proposal and the characters of 'Gossip Girl' for my job.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Book, Young, Turned, Young Adult

I always resented books that tried to teach a lesson, where the characters are too good: They don't swear, they tell their mothers everything.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Teach, Tell, Always, Swear

Face it, you have to be sort of an egomaniac to write something down and think that anyone is going to want to read it.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Face, Think, Read, Egomaniac

I tend to stare at people and memorize what they're saying and how they say it.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

How, Stare, Tend, They Say

I certainly didn't say while writing 'Gossip Girl,' 'Oh this is going to be big!' It was really like, 'Oh god, everyone's gong to hate these people! They're so bratty!' But I actually think what is so appealing about them is the humor in them.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Big, About, Oh God, Gong

I remember, in my senior year, one of my teachers taking me aside and saying: 'You look really tired.' This was when I was being a bad kid and she knew that something was wrong.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Bad, I Remember, Year, Senior

I'm just a crazy person. I mean, I really didn't have any trouble coming up with weird ways for people to die. I think I'm just very twisted!

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Die, Think, Very, Crazy Person

I have no sense of what I should or shouldn't talk about. I just blather. Which is why it's fun to write 'Gossip Girl.' I do tend to just talk about anything.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

No Sense, About, Which, Gossip

I decided that, if I were to write a teen series, I'd want to set it in a place that was familiar to me - Manhattan, where I'd grown up - and I'd model the characters on myself and my friends.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Myself, Want, Set, Familiar

The girls show more skin these days, but I think, generally, they behave the same way as when I was growing up.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Think, More, I Think, Behave

I'm always saying that my books are not autobiographical because they're not. I can't choose any one scene and say, 'Oh, this is exactly what happened to me!' I just use little snippets of things as a starting point!

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Choose, Point, Use, Autobiographical

When I was 16, 17, 18 years old, I felt like I had seen it all and done it all, and I was really kind of negative about everything.

- Cecily von Ziegesar

Kind, Old, Like, Negative

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