The machine will grind you down, but the machine is not bigger than the imagination. Rome fell in a day. We know this.
Suheir HammadRead
I understand now my father really thought he was doing me good. Education means a lot to Palestinians. We’ve become some of the most educated people in the world through our diaspora. We’ve had to be. When you ain’t got land, your degree may be your only solid ground. May father felt (feels) that being a doctor would give me security. How can I explain that I’m not safe from anything if I don’t write?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of education among Palestinians and the idea that writing can be a form of safety and self-expression.
In her quote, Suheir Hammad reflects on her father's belief that education, particularly in the medical field, would provide her with security in an unstable world. She articulates the deeper significance of education for Palestinians, who often feel their identity and safety are tied to their knowledge and ability to express themselves, suggesting that writing holds a unique power beyond conventional success in one’s career.
Themes
EducationPalestiniansWritingSecurityIdentity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education during a community event.
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In a library, you can find small miracles and truth, and you might find something that will make you laugh so hard that you will get shushed, in the friendliest way. I have found sanctuary in libraries my whole life, and there is sanctuary there now, from the war, from the storms of our families and our own minds. Libraries are like mountains or meadows or creeks: sacred space. So this afternoon, I'll walk to the library.
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Whoever touches the life of the child touches the most sensitive point of a whole which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future.
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I believe people should study a little bit every day. It should become habitual, like brushing your teeth, combing your hair, having a shower or getting dressed. Study the mind, the laws of the universe and paradigms. There's enough information on those subjects to keep a person studying forever.
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The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-trust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciples.
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Reading is the creative center of a writer's life." -
Stephen KingRead
The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.
Mark TwainRead