Quotes About Identity

Always be. Never try to become. You can be anything you want, just don't work at becoming. Remember to be it.

The philosopher Ernst Mach once got on a bus, and saw a scruffy unkempt bookish-looking person at the far end. He thought to himself (1) That man is a shabby pedagogue. In fact, Mach was seeing himself in a large mirror at the far end of the bus, of the sort conductors used to help keep track of things. He eventually realized this, and thought to himself: (2) I am that man. (3) I am a shabby pedagogue.

Mississippi used to be able to do whatever it wanted to do, until the United States found out about it. And now that Mississippi has become part of the United States, things ain't the same. Well, it's become partially part of it, anyway. Which is sayin' a lot, because, when I was a boy, wuddn none of it in America.

European nightmare – the delusional myth of one blood, one race, one people. And

Guerin and Delgamuukw are two examples of the continuing ability of Aboriginal peoples to shape not just how Canada functions or will function, but how Canada imagines itself. The Court's decisions demonstrate how Canada does not exist or function merely in the narrative of the British or French philosophy of governance. It

Stop thinking about living in the north and in isolated communities as an unfortunate accident or a punishment or a failure; stop thinking about it in southern urban terms. Start thinking about it as a purpose in and of itself, a necessary and happy purpose covering two-thirds of Canada, with its own reality.

And so the indigenous languages of this place do belong to the people through whom they emerged. But they also carry within them an understanding of where we are and what is required of us all. Each time one of these languages disappears, even if you have never heard it, a great steel door closes forever on an understanding of this place. The

The very idea of a nation-state intentionally built on ideas and a multiplicity of races, languages and myths doesn't fit into the historic Western framework and therefore cannot be real.

There are kids at our school with brown skin and kids with black skin, but I knew that a kid with green skin would just be too much.

Taste is the only morality. Tell me what you like and I'll tell you what you are.

Shakespeare has no heroes. He only has heroines.

I could live here," Del said. "No, you couldn't. You'd turn into a coot and hang out at the general store, with your fly down," Lucas said. "You'd be known for goosing middle-aged women. You'd be the town embarrassment.

Shipley—One Toke Over the Line Ramones—I Wanna Be Sedated The Clash—Should I Stay or Should I Go Talking Heads—Burning Down the House Dmitri Shostakovich—Jazz Suite No. 2: Waltz 2

You didn't need it, because you're basically a painter, not a thief. But I'm basically a thief. That's what I do.

Should Virgil grow a mustache, he'd look like everybody else, Virgil thought: a monoculture of German-Scandinavian white people, now getting a little salsa poured on it, to the great relief of everyone.

TV. It's like if you're not on it, you don't exist. The single most pernicious idea in our culture.

He believes he's the only real soul in an ocean of puppets.

Yeah," Smalls said. "That's the guy.

Taryn was now thirty-four. She still had those major assets—she was blond, good-looking, with interesting places in all the interesting places.

Lot of Irish in Mexico. The Mexican name, Obregon? It comes from O'Brien.

It's a mixed crowd at the dogs - black, white, hispanic - but to Walt they all look like Jackie Gleason. Heavyset guys with big plans and polyester souls.

I didn't choose the Nerd Life. The Nerd Life chose me. Awkwardly and without making eye contact.

Don't discount that part of who he was just because you didn't know it. None of us are all of who we are to any one person.

I'm a monster. You're a monster. We're all fucking inhuman monsters, and we don't see a damned thing wrong with it.