The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.
Gichin FunakoshiRead
People always talk about good time rock and roll, Chuck Berry or whatever, like this liberating force for feeling good. But what I need in my life is to be liberated into feeling bad. Not sad. I have plenty of sad. What I need is a place where I can spray anger in sparks like a gnarled piece of electrical cable. Just be mad at stuff and soak in the helplessness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a need to embrace and channel negative emotions rather than just seeking happiness.
John Darnielle reflects on the importance of allowing oneself to experience and express anger in a society that often promotes positivity. He suggests that feeling 'bad' and confronting difficult emotions can be a form of liberation, providing a space to process and acknowledge deeper feelings beyond just sadness.
Themes
AngerEmotionLiberationNegativityHelplessness
In practice
Example use cases
In a social media post about mental health, one might quote this when discussing the importance of accepting all emotions.
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