Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.
Interpretation
Defining oneself is a challenging yet essential task, contrasting with the ease of allowing others to define us.
This quote highlights the struggle of self-identification in a world where external judgments often shape how we see ourselves. It emphasizes the importance of personal agency and the difficulty involved in resisting societal pressures to conform to others' definitions.
In practice
In a motivational speech about personal growth.
The reason that minorities and women dont have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the campaign finance rules are so skewed as to make it very difficult for non-traditional candidates to raise the money necessary to get elected.
The New Testament is a brutal destroyer of human illusions. If you follow Jesus and don't end up dead, it appears you have some explaining to do. The stark signifier of the human condition is one who spoke up for love and justice and was done to death for his pains. The traumatic truth of human history is a mutilated body.
We are a society dying, said Aunt Lydia, of too much choice.
Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.
In certain quarters, conservatism is simply racism by another name. And minorities who openly identify themselves as conservatives are still novelties, fish out of water.
Opinions are a private matter. The public has an interest only in judgments.
He does not regard the quantity of faith, but the quality. He does not measure its degree, but its truth. He will not break any bruised reed, nor quench any smoking flax. He will never let it be said that any perished at the foot of the cross.
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