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Lynn Johnston Quotes

Powerful Lynn Johnston for Daily Growth

About Lynn Johnston

Lynn Johnston (born June 3, 1947) is a Canadian cartoonist renowned for her poignant and humorous comic strip "For Better or For Worse," which ran in newspapers worldwide for over three decades. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Johnston developed an early interest in drawing, nurtured by her mother, who encouraged her artistic talents. Johnston studied art at the University of Manitoba and later moved to Toronto, where she worked as a freelance artist before making her mark in comic strips. Her career took off in 1979 when "For Better or For Worse" debuted in six Canadian newspapers. The comic strip soon gained international recognition for its insightful portrayal of family life and the human condition, earning Johnston a dedicated readership. Set in the fictional town of Elmwood, Ontario, "For Better or For Worse" follows the lives of the Patterson family, particularly the young Elizabeth (Elizabeth "Lizzy" Patterson) and her parents, Michael and Elly. The comic strip's authenticity stems from Johnston's personal experiences as a mother and wife, making it relatable to millions of readers across the globe. Throughout its run, "For Better or For Worse" tackled various social issues, including mental health, aging, and same-sex marriage. In 1990, Johnston won the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist from the National Cartoonists Society, recognizing her significant contribution to the comic strip medium. Johnston retired "For Better or For Worse" in 2008, leaving a lasting impact on the world of cartooning with her profound and heartwarming depiction of everyday life. Today, her work continues to be celebrated as a timeless testament to family, love, and the human spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything."

This quote emphasizes that family isn't just a significant aspect of life, but rather, it encapsulates every essential element we need for a fulfilling existence. Family encompasses love, support, understanding, and growth - all integral components that make up our identities and experiences. It is a source of strength and comfort in times of hardship, a catalyst for joy in moments of triumph, and a constant in an ever-changing world. In essence, family is the foundation upon which we build our lives, making it everything that truly matters.

"Real love isn't about being around when things are easy. It's about being there when they're hard."

This quote by Lynn Johnston emphasizes that genuine love is not merely a fleeting presence during pleasant moments, but rather it stands strong even in times of difficulty or adversity. True love endures through life's challenges and demonstrates unwavering support, understanding, and compassion, making the bond between two individuals stronger and more meaningful.

"Life doesn't always go the way you plan, but it usually turns out just fine in the end."

This quote conveys a sense of optimism and resilience, acknowledging that life rarely unfolds as we initially envision, yet assuring us that things will ultimately work out for the best. It suggests that unexpected events or deviations from our plans should not discourage us, but rather serve as opportunities for growth and learning. The message is one of hope, encouraging us to face life's challenges with determination and trust that, in time, we will reach a positive outcome.

"You can't control everything that happens to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them."

This quote by Lynn Johnston signifies resilience and personal agency. It suggests that although life's events may be uncontrollable, individuals have the power to choose how they react and adapt to these circumstances. Rather than succumbing to hardships or adversity, one can decide not to let them diminish their spirit or strength. Essentially, it encourages a mindset of perseverance in the face of challenges and emphasizes the importance of personal growth and self-determination over external factors.

"The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them."

This quote by Lynn Johnston suggests that the most profound or significant aspects of life, love, emotions, and experiences are often challenging to express through language. Words, by their nature, tend to simplify and reduce complex feelings into mere definitions or phrases, failing to capture their true essence or intensity. Therefore, the most important things in life may remain unspoken or unexpressed because they surpass the capacity of our words to accurately convey them.

I often think you bring unhappiness on yourself, because if you don't like yourself very much, you allow yourself to be influenced by people who reinforce that.

- Lynn Johnston

Think, Very, Allow, Unhappiness

If I was in love with someone, I would get their picture out of the school yearbook and do portraits. If I was curious about sex, I would draw pictures of it. There were no books for me to look at. Then I would go find my father's matches to burn the paper.

- Lynn Johnston

Love, Father, About, Portraits

In a way, a certain amount of self-criticism is a good thing, because it keeps you humble. Realizing that no matter what success you've achieved, you can still make enemies makes you humble, too.

- Lynn Johnston

Humble, Still, Amount, Realizing

And my father was a comic. He could play any musical instrument. He loved to perform. He was a wonderfully comedic character. He had the ability to dance and sing and charm and analyze poetry.

- Lynn Johnston

Play, Could, Musical, Analyze

Yes, and when I had Aaron, he left me, and I didn't know how to raise a child. And I wasn't close to my parents, and because I was too proud to go to my parents for help, I mistreated that little baby. I didn't want a baby.

- Lynn Johnston

How, Had, Too, Mistreated

That's what my mother did. And my father was the first person she'd met who treated her kindly. She was terrified of men, and she married a very meek, kind, dear man. And she had the upper hand. She ruled the roost.

- Lynn Johnston

Father, Very, Upper, Roost

After I got this job at the syndicate, I started sending them money so they could go on trips and do the things they could never afford to do. All the while, I never knew that my mother was socking money away.

- Lynn Johnston

Away, Knew, Could, Trips

People never knew we were poor, but out of that poverty came the most incredible inventions - board games, recipes... we never stopped inventing.

- Lynn Johnston

Recipes, Knew, Stopped, Board

You think about child abuse and you think of a father viciously attacking a daughter or a son, but in my family it was my mother. My mother, I would say, was a... very brutal disciplinarian.

- Lynn Johnston

Think, Very, Brutal, Child Abuse

It's taken me a long time to become the person I am, for all the ugliness to fall away. The rotten flesh is gone, and the seed is there. I can touch that now.

- Lynn Johnston

Seed, Touch, Away, Flesh

I loved the Little Lulu stories, where she would fantasize that her bedroom rug would turn into a pool of water, and she could dive down into the center of the world.

- Lynn Johnston

Stories, Fantasize, Rug, Bedroom

I was just so lucky to have a wonderful life after a tough marriage.

- Lynn Johnston

Marriage, Wonderful, Lucky, Wonderful Life

Only a couple of times have I ever been to church and felt enlightened by it.

- Lynn Johnston

Couple, Ever, Times, Enlightened

When Kate was born, she was born into a world of joy and happiness and confidence. The difference between the children is night and day. She's happy, she's thriving, she's full of self-confidence. I tell her she's beautiful every day before I send her off to school.

- Lynn Johnston

Every Day, Before, Thriving, Send

No matter how old you are, there's always something good to look forward to.

- Lynn Johnston

Old, How, Always, Something Good

Aaron and I will be joined at the hip until the day we die. We have loved and hated each other since the day he was born. He's very much a part of my heart. He's going to broadcasting college now, and he'll do fine. But he came into a world that did not welcome him.

- Lynn Johnston

College, Die, Very, Aaron

My mother was a very literate person who had educated herself. She had an exceptional vocabulary.

- Lynn Johnston

Mother, She, Very, Herself

I know it sounds crazy, but I have had far more connection with my parents after their deaths.

- Lynn Johnston

More, Had, Sounds, Connection

Sure, I've had some bad times, but everybody does. But people don't get to talk about them like I do, unless they do to a therapist. People don't get to put them in the paper like I do.

- Lynn Johnston

Some, Everybody, Sure, Therapist

The most profound statements are often said in silence.

- Lynn Johnston

Profound, Often, Most, Statements

Mom and Dad would stay in bed on Sunday morning, but the kids would have to go to church.

- Lynn Johnston

Parenting, Bed, Sunday

But even though all this was going on at home, if someone had tried to take me away and put me in a children's home, I couldn't have handled it. Even though my mother was very brutal, it was my home.

- Lynn Johnston

Away, Very, Brutal, Handled

You see, anything I imagined, I could draw.

- Lynn Johnston

See, Could, Imagined, Draw

Complaining is good for you as long as you're not complaining to the person you're complaining about.

- Lynn Johnston

Good, Person, About, Complaining

But I married a guy who treated me very badly, but I was happy. I was miserable, so I was happy.

- Lynn Johnston

Treated, Very, Badly, Miserable

I've had some tremendous adventures, good and bad. It's part of the novel, and a novel isn't interesting if it doesn't have some good and bad. And you don't know what good is if bad hasn't been a part of your life.

- Lynn Johnston

Bad, Some, Been, Tremendous

I've always felt that life is a novel, and part of it is written for you, and part of it is written by you. It's up to you to write the ending, ultimately.

- Lynn Johnston

Always, Part, Felt, Ending

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