4.11.2012


THOUGHTS ON CONTRADICTION:

1
Over drinks in a small bar Alice told Mr Sakamoto of the incident in the Métro, of the journey to the bookshop. She told him about the woman with the tattooed arm. Then she said that although she was studying modernity, she had bought a novel by Henry James.

‘So what is the problem?’ he asked. ‘You are large enough to contain contradictions. We are all large enough—are we not?—to contain contradictions.’

-Gail Jones, Dreams of Speaking, London: Harvill Secker, 2006, p. 83. [via Hila at le projet d'amour]

2
Don't take yourself too seriously, and take yourself as seriously as death itself.
Don't worry. Worry your ass off.
Have unclad confidence, but doubt. It keeps you awake and alert.
Believe you are the baddest ass in town—and you suck! It keeps you honest.

Be able to keep two completely contradictory ideas alive and well inside of your heart and head at all times. If it doesn't drive you crazy, it will make you strong. And, stay hard, stay hungry, and stay alive. And when you walk on stage tonight to bring the noise, treat it like it's all we have—and then remember it's only rock 'n' roll.

-Bruce Springsteen, SXSW 2012 Keynote Speech [via NPR at 48:15]

3 comments:

  1. this is pretty much the coolest reminder ever! and makes me feel a lot better about my state of mind. :)

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  2. I love this post and these thoughts... am so often frustrated with myself for feeling like a ball of contradictions.

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  3. I'm so glad Jane (above) linked to this post--those are some wonderfully good words. Thank you for sharing them.

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