Collected Quotes for The Month: November 2016

Best Of

[…] the natural inclination of adults is to devalue the dreams of kids who express an interest in pursuing the arts. Let a kid show any kind of special aptitude for math or science, and the world will move mountains to put him in programs that stimulate his gift. The same goes for children who express even a remote interest in subjects society thinks will lead them toward careers we all tend to consider exceptional: doctor, lawyer, professor, engineer, or if it’s the arts, a classical musician and the like. Hardly anyone ever encourages the child who can’t sit still, or who runs her mouth a little too much or who lets her imagination soar, to do what is perfectly natural and right to her: consider acting, singing, dancing, or otherwise make a living performing. […] it seems such a wasted opportunity, so incredibly unjust to steer a kid away from what makes his heart sing.
— “Chapter 3: Drama.” Around The Way Girl – Pages 47-48

When dad says, ‘You can call me anytime,’ that’s not bein’ a dad. That’s coppin’ out.
— “House of Healing: Fix A Black Man’s Heart – Part 2.” Iyanla: Fix My Life

I can give you a London accent, I can give you Becky the Valley Girl all day long. I can pull it back and get corporate when I need to, too. But checks are usually attached to that. I have to get paid to be that person. That is not who I am.
— “Chapter 2: Authentic.” Around The Way Girl – Page 40

[…] what I look for in a friend: Loyalty and trust. The challenge to be a better me. The space to be unapologetically rough, rugged, and raw. I’m not biting my tongue around them, and while I know they won’t judge, I can trust them not to tell me what they think I want to hear. They work me, which I appreciate because it leaves the space for me to be me. This is important, because being fake with the ones I love isn’t an option – I’m not that girl. I get paid to pretend, but I won’t do it in my real-life relationships.
— “Chapter 12: My Squad.” Around the Way Girl – Page 221

“Only someone who has seen both sides can be certain of their convictions.“
— “Chapter 8 – Button.” – 3%

“I’m beginning to understand what I am. I am flawed, damaged. But the clarity I have gives me strength to do what you cannot. “

— “Season 2/ Episode 5.” Humans

[On Dying] It feels like all these beautiful pieces of life are flying around me and I’m trying to catch them. When my granddaughter falls asleep in my lap, I try to catch the feeling of her breathing against me. And when I make my son laugh, I try to catch the sound of him laughing. How it rolls up from his chest. But the pieces are moving faster now, and I can’t catch them all. I can feel them slipping through my fingertips and soon where there used to be my granddaughter breathing and my son laughing, there will be nothing. I know it feels like you have all the time in the world, but you don’t. So, stop playing it so cool. Catch the moments of your life, catch them while you’re young and quick. Because sooner than you know it, you’ll be old and slow. And there’ll be no more of them to catch.
— “Pilgrim Rick.” This Is Us

“It’s hard to know what to say […] because […] I don’t want to say anything now that I can’t take back later if you’re just gonna go home and make up. Because that makes me the asshole, like, forever.”

— “You Sold Me the Laundromat, Remember?” Shameless

The Rest

You’re so used to disappointing people, it doesn’t affect you anymore. But disappointing people and being an asshole are two different things.
— “Your Mama Had A Hard Night.” Good Behavior

You needed time, rest, healing. You didn’t ask for it. […] In a loving relationship where you expect to be honored and valued, you withheld information. That’s a secret, silent agreement, a lie. […] ‘I’m not gonna tell you my truth. I’m not gonna be authentic with you. I’m not gonna take care of myself. I’m not gonna allow myself to be supported and cared for. I’m not gonna allow myself to see what you really made of. I’m just gonna suffer through it’ and the horrification was when they didn’t give you back all that you thought you gave them.
— “House of Healing: Fix A Black Man’s Heart – Part 2.” Iyanla: Fix My Life

All that time, I thought you were fighting and not listening.
— “Chapter 4: Hustler.” Around The Way Girl – Page 87

We’re only beautiful online, people here don’t look at us the same way as people online do. Online you are championed for being different. People worldwide look at you, admire you because you can be this way [different], and pretty at the same time in a country where they can’t imagine people actually look like this.
— “Grace Neutral discovers the Brazilian girls leading the new beauty revolution” i-D

She was nobody to everybody, but I made her somebody to me.
— “Chapter 4: Hustler.” Around The Way Girl – Page 73

You like chasing, you don’t like having. The second you get what you want you figure out a way to throw it away.
— “Wear It.” Pitch

It sounds nice to know why you are getting up in the morning. You know, sometimes I open my eyes and I don’t know why I’m supposed to get out of bed.
— “Wear It.” Pitch

I apologize instead of being sorry.
— “House of Healing: Fix A Black Man’s Heart – Part 3.” Iyanla: Fix My Life

“We don’t need love, me and you. We need like and desire.”

— “You Sold Me the Laundromat, Remember?” Shameless