You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave.
Quentin CrispRead
The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person. I would describe this method of searching for happiness as immature. Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often seek happiness through reliance on others, which is seen as an immature approach. True character development comes from achieving self-sufficiency.
In this quote, Quentin Crisp highlights the common tendency among humans to seek happiness by depending on others, which he considers an immature way of finding fulfillment. He emphasizes that true personal growth and character development stem from cultivating self-sufficiency and independence, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own happiness rather than relying on external sources.
Themes
HappinessSelf-SufficiencyIndependenceCharacterPersonal Growth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development.
More from Quentin Crisp
All quotes →What would you be like if you were the only person in the world? If you want to be truly happy you must be that person.
Quentin CrispRead
The search for a life-style involves a journey to the interior. This is not altogether a pleasant experience, because you not only have to take stock of what you consider your assets but you also have to take a long look at what your friends call “the trouble with you.” Nevertheless, the journey is worth making.
Quentin CrispRead
If you describe things as better than they are, you are considered to be a romantic; if you describe things as worse than they are, you will be called a realist; and if you describe things exactly as they are, you will be thought of as a satirist.
Quentin CrispRead
The flagrantly gay Quentin Crisp dealt with homophobic bullying by refusing to bow to its onslaught. His number listed in the phone directory, he responded to derogatory remarks accompanied with a stated intent to kill him by asking, "Would you like to make an appointment?"
Quentin CrispRead
It is explained that all relationships require a little give and take. This is untrue. Any partnership demands that we give and give and give and at the last, as we flop into our graves exhausted, we are told that we didn't give enough.
Quentin CrispRead
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