Quotes About Self-expression

I've never tried to emulate anyone. I've never idolized people, I prefer instead to get off on attitudes.

If Jacob was right and clothes were costumes and makeup a mask, then our attitudes and habits must be our shields.

Back in high school, I never understood how Amy could enjoy getting with guys just for the short haul. In a way, though, making out like this is more enjoyable because there's no pressure for me to not do or say anything stupid. What's the worst that can happen if I do? So I'm freer to focus on what I'm feeling, not what he feels about me.

I mean, seriously, what lady of taste could resist a shiny green head of hair like mine?

Every time my brain parks the car neatly in the driveway, my mouth drives through the back of the garage.

You're breaking out of character, again.

You better [start writing] now because you know how to write, and you have fingers, and you have this one life, and during this one life, you should put your words down, and make your voice heard, and then let others hear your voice. And the only way any of that's going to happen is if you actually do it. People can't read the thoughts in your head. They can only read the thoughts you put down, carefully and with great love, on the page. So you have to do it, goddamnit.

Then why are you talking about exhibitionism? It's a ridiculous term. Someone wants to celebrate their existence and you call it exhibitionism. It's niggardly. If you don't want anyone to know about your existence, you might as well kill yourself. You're taking up space, air.

They clearly see through the whole thing, that we are using this to get exposure, to prove to all and ourselves that we are real, that we like everyone else simply want our lives on tape, proven, feel that what we are doing only becomes real once is has been entered into the record.

It's not a lie," he added. "It's a form of practice. Figure out who you want to be, then dress like that person. No detail is too small to overlook. If you're at any critical point of your life, you should do everything you can to tip the scales—not in your favor, but in favor of having the right thing happen.

Why should I write what they told me to write just because they told me to write it?

Yes no yes no yes no? Red blue? Yes red, no blue? No red, yes no? In out, up down? Do don't, can can't? Choices sit on the shelf life New shoes in a shoe shop. If the in crowd are squeezing into a must-have shoe And the one pair left are too tiny for you Don't feel compelled into choosing them If you're really a size 9, buy that size. While everyone else Hobbles round with sore feet Your choices should feel comfortable Or they aren't your choices at all. Why limp when you can sprint?

She talked to herself as she wrote. Dark hair, about six four five, two-forty. Shoulders the size of Nebraska. Amazing blue eyes. She put down her pen. Amazing blue eyes?Where did that come from?

And I don't care what anybody says; I like doing it, and it's what I shall continue to do

Self-actualization is what educated existence is all about. For members of the educated class, life is one long graduate school. When they die, God meets them at the gates of heaven, totes up how many fields of self-expression they have mastered, and then hands them a divine diploma and lets them in.

Part of freedom is the right of each of us to go to hell in his own fashion.

Your Highness could never be silly,' Adara told her. Ce'Nedra lifted her chin. 'Oh yes I can,' she declared. 'I've got as much right to make a fool of myself in public as anyone else.

won't be them; it will be me.

I'm so scared of dying without ever being really seen. Can you understand?

If you are an adolescent, here is the trick to being neither quite a nerd nor quite a jock: be no one. It is easier than you think.

You have a great deal of yourself on the line, writing— your vanity is at stake. You discover a tricky thing about fiction writing; a certain amount of vanity is necessary to be able to do it all, but any vanity above that certain amount is lethal.

I am also concerned not to come off as shrill or preachy when what I really am is more like confused.

I'm a typical American, half of me is dying to give myself away and the other half is continually rebelling.

If you are an adolescent, here is the trick to being neither quite a nerd nor quite a jock: be no one.