"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
This quote suggests that everyone has unique qualities, quirks, or idiosyncrasies that make them 'weird' in their own way. In a broader context, life itself can seem strange and confusing at times. When we encounter someone whose eccentricities align with ours, we form a connection - this connection is often called love. Essentially, the quote emphasizes the importance of finding individuals who understand and accept our peculiarities, embracing mutual understanding and compatibility as a key element in romantic relationships.
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."
William Nicholson's quote emphasizes the importance of truly living as opposed to merely existing. He suggests that most individuals simply go through life without fully engaging with it or experiencing its richness - they 'exist'. By contrast, he posits that to truly 'live' is a rare and valuable accomplishment. This perspective encourages us to appreciate every moment, immerse ourselves in experiences, and cultivate our personal growth.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
This quote by William Nicholson emphasizes that life isn't about quantity but quality. It suggests that what truly matters in life are those unique, extraordinary moments - experiences or events so impactful they leave us breathless. These moments make our lives meaningful and memorable, setting them apart from the ordinary passing of time. It encourages us to live intentionally, to seek out such moments, and to savor their profound impact on our lives.
"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."
This quote by William Nicholson emphasizes the significant role that one's inner disposition, or attitude, plays in shaping their overall happiness or misery. In other words, it suggests that while external circumstances can influence our wellbeing, they do not entirely determine it. Instead, a positive and resilient mindset often enables individuals to find joy and contentment even in unfavorable situations, thereby implying that personal outlook is a crucial determinant of happiness.
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable."
This quote by William Nicholson speaks to the inherent risk and vulnerability in loving anything deeply. By opening our hearts to love, we expose ourselves to potential pain and heartache. However, if one chooses to shield their heart from love by immersing themselves in self-centered pursuits, their heart may harden instead of breaking, but it will lose its ability to be nurtured or transformed. Essentially, Nicholson suggests that embracing vulnerability through love allows for growth and connection, while choosing isolation preserves an unbreakable but ultimately empty heart.
Madly, futilely, I wrote novel after novel, eight in all, that failed to find a publisher. I persisted because for me the novel was the supreme literary form - not just one among many, not a relic of the past, but the way we communicate to one another the subtlest truths about this business of living.
- William Nicholson
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