Grandfather's been dead all these years, but if you lifted my skull, by God, in the convolutions of my brain you'd find the big ridges of his thumbprint. He touched me. As I said earlier, he was a sculptor. 'I hate a Roman named Status Quo!' he said to me. 'Stuff your eyes with wonder,' he said, 'live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the lasting impact of experiences and the importance of living life fully and embracing wonder.
Ray Bradbury's quote reflects on the profound influence of his grandfather, illustrating how the impressions and teachings of loved ones remain etched in our minds. The exhortation to 'see the world' and 'live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds' underscores a philosophy of adventure, appreciation for life’s beauty, and a rejection of stagnation and complacency. By encouraging us to fill our lives with wonder and exploration, Bradbury advocates for an engaged and enthusiastic approach to existence, highlighting that true richness can be found in observation and experience rather than material possessions.
In practice
During a motivational speech on life experiences.
I've written about 2,000 short stories; I've only published 300 and I feel I'm still learning. Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he'll eventually make some kind of career for himself as a writer. Ray Bradbury, 1967 interview (Doing the Math - that means for every story he sold, he wrote six "un-publishable" ones. Keep typing!)
I never went to college, so I went to the library.
There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.
I think the sun is a flower, That blooms for just one hour.
The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might as well be out picking peaches or digging ditches; God knows it'd be better for his health.
You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.
It is the greatest of all advantages to enjoy no advantage at all.
All that time I spent chasing Yale was time I could have been using to actually make a difference in the world. Bravery, not perfection, was the key that unlocked all the doors I've walked through since.
A society that does not use the intellectual power of its female population fully is not a wise society. Most women are not as tainted by mistakes in the conduct of the economy as the male population, and now they deserve an opportunity.
The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.
Careless indifference and bodily restlessness in meditation cause negative vibrations.
It's a lot easier to stay idealistic if you don't sign two to five next-of-kin letters every day.
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