Sometimes, the Internet can feel like a middle-school playground populated by brats in ski masks who name-call and taunt with the fake bravery of the anonymous. But sometimes - thank goodness - it's nicer than real life.
Susan OrleanRead
I never thought very many people in the world were very much like John Laroche, but I realized more and more that he was only an extreme, not an aberration - that most people in some way or another do strive for something exceptional, something to pursue, even at their peril, rather than abide an ordinary life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that most people, like John Laroche, seek extraordinary experiences rather than settling for a mundane existence.
In this quote, Susan Orlean reflects on the character John Laroche, pointing out that while he may appear extreme in his relentless pursuit of something exceptional, he actually represents a common human desire to strive for greatness. This pursuit can often come with risks and challenges, but it is a fundamental aspect of the human spirit to seek extraordinary achievements instead of accepting a life of mediocrity.
Themes
PursuitExceptionalOrdinaryLifeStrive
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about embracing challenges.
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I suppose I do have one embarrassing passion- I want to know what it feels like to care about something passionately.
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There's a marvelous sense of mastery that comes with writing a sentence that sounds exactly as you want it to. It's like trying to write a song, making tiny tweaks, reading it out loud, shifting things to make it sound a certain way... Sometimes it feels like digging out of a hole, but sometimes it feels like flying. When it's working and the rhythm's there, it does feel like magic to me.
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