The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in risking your life for a cause anchored in some distant political arena.
Walter Dean MyersRead
I think that if we can't go back, then we should try even harder to go forward. And I do want to go forward, to a place where loving someone because they have a gentle smile and a friendly hello is as easy as it once was.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of progress and maintaining love and kindness despite life's challenges.
In this quote, Walter Dean Myers reflects on the idea that although we may not be able to return to the simplicity and joy of past relationships, we can strive to forge ahead with the same love and appreciation for the small, gentle gestures that define our connections with others. It suggests that moving forward with positivity and love is essential in a world that often complicates our interactions.
Themes
LoveProgressKindnessRelationshipsSmile
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about resilience in relationships.
More from Walter Dean Myers
All quotes →I remember one time being told I could not play in a basketball game at the College of William and Mary because I was black, even though I was playing with a United States Army team.
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As a writer, I absorb stories, allow them to churn within my own head and heart - often for years - until I find a way of telling them that fits both my time and temperament.
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We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.
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Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.
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Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?
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