We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behavior.
Graydon CarterRead
Christopher Hitchens was a wit, a charmer, and a troublemaker, and to those who knew him well, he was a gift from - dare I say it - God.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the multifaceted nature of Christopher Hitchens, emphasizing his charm, wit, and the joy he brought to those who knew him.
Graydon Carter's quote encapsulates the essence of Christopher Hitchens as a remarkable individual who combined intellect with humor, drawing people to him with an infectious personality. It also hints at a deeper appreciation of friendship and the unique gifts that certain individuals bring to our lives, likening Hitchens to a divine blessing for those fortunate enough to have known him intimately.
Themes
FriendshipWitCharmTroublemakerGiftAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a eulogy remembering a close friend who passed away.
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When I recollect the treasure of friendship that has been bestowed upon me I withdraw all charges against life. If much has been denied me, much, very much has been given. So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart I shall say that life is good.
Helen KellerRead
Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness.
Dag HammarskjoldRead
And then there are my friends, and they have their own lives. While they like to talk everything through, to analyze and hypothesize, what I really need, what I'm really looking for, is not something I can articulate. It's nonverbal: I need love. I need the thing that happens when your brain shuts off and your heart turns on. And I know it's around me somewhere, but I just can't feel it.
Elizabeth WurtzelRead
I had friends. The idea of being forever separated from them and from all their troubles is one of the greatest sorrows that I suffer in dying. Let them at least know that to my latest moment I thought of them.
Marie AntoinetteRead
To clink glasses of a freshly made, seasonal beer, preferably in a pub or garden, with friends and perhaps new acquaintances, is a ritual that makes every participant feel good. We may not rationalize this at the time, but it gives us a sense of place in our common community and our time in the tides of life on earth. This is a way to value beer and treat it with respect.
Michael JacksonRead
Friendship multiplies blessings and...soothes the soul.
Baltasar GracianRead