quote tag

Pam (Willful Grace) tagged me for five quotes. Admittedly, I don't often reference quotes, so here are a few that pop to my head:

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"'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. . . . "

Marianne Williamson's A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles Harper Collins, 1992. From Chapter 7, Section 3 (Pg. 190-191) (Wikiquote).

This quote is often mistakenly attributed to one of Nelson Mandela's presidential inauguration speeches.

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"Ezekiel 25:17: The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the Valley of Darkness; for he is truly his brother's keeper, and the finder of lost children. And, I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers! And, you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!"

"Jules Winnfield" played by Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction (IMDB.com). Written by Quentin Tarantino.

I've never memorized scripture, but I've always wanted to memorize this classic quote. Unfortunately/fortunately, Tarantino took extensive liberties in changing this verse. I think I read somewhere that he may have gotten it from someone else's work. The real Ezekiel 25:17 is much shorter: "And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them." (KJV, BibleGateway.com)

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"I will have to say this morning, I was the leader of the universe as I knew it. This afternoon, I am only a voice in a chorus. But I think it was a good day."

"Chancellor Durken", played by George Coe, when asked what he would tell his family about his day after learning that the civilization he leads is merely one among many planets. Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "First Contact". Teleplay by Dennis Russell Bailey, David Bischoff, Joe Menosky and Ronald D. Moore. Story by Marc Scott Zicree. (IMDB.com, TrekCore.com).

I know referencing Star Trek is a little geeky, but this line has always had an impression on me. How would we react to the news that we were just one of many civilizations?

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"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Epistle to the Romans by Paul of Tarsus. Chapter 7, Verses 15-20 (NIV, BibleGateway.com)

I really identified with this passage -- especially during my ex-gay struggle. Back then, I would have sworn Paul was gay (as I have heard some scholars suggest). Its power is that we don't know what Paul's internal struggle was, but he certainly captured the essence of any internal struggle.

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"I'M CLARE-BO!"

IMG_8148.JPG Originally uploaded by sweber4507.

Scott's & his roommates' cat, Clare-Bo, rallying cry for anything she happens to desire.

Well, okay, she doesn't audibly say these words, but she communicates these words in every other way. Even for her notoriously self-interested species, Clare-Bo is exceptionally selfish and bullying among the three cats and three humans she commands. We're pretty sure we've accurately translated her intentions: 'I'm going to be the first one to eat from BOTH cat food dishes. I'm Clare-Bo!'; 'Get out of my way! I'm going to sit on the window sill. I'm Clare-Bo!'; and 'I'm going outside. I'm Clare-Bo!' (She then sabotages her own escape by "MEOWING" her cry of freedom out the door). Scott and I have adopted her rallying cry much like "TOWANDA!" in Fried Green Tomatoes.