Roscoe was spiritually illegal, a bootlegger of the soul, a mythic creature made of words and wit and wild deeds and boundless memory.
Interpretation
This quote speaks to the unique and often rebellious nature of a person's spirit and creativity.
William Kennedy's quote describes a character named Roscoe, portraying him as a vibrant and unconventional individual who transcends conventional norms. The phrase 'spiritually illegal' suggests that his essence and impulses challenge societal boundaries, while 'bootlegger of the soul' implies he illicitly nurtures and shares deep, meaningful experiences. This expression highlights the richness of personality and creativity, celebrating those who boldly embrace their individuality despite societal expectations.
In practice
This quote could be shared during a creative writing workshop to inspire participants to embrace their unique voice.
Knowing there is a world that will outlive you, there are people whose well-being depends on how you live your life, affects the way you live your life, whether or not you directly experience those effects. You want to be the kind of person who has the larger view, who takes other people's interests into account, who's dedicated to the principles that you can justify, like justice, knowledge, truth, beauty and morality.
We have the whitest kitchens and the most shining bathrooms in the world. But in the lovely white kitchen the average [person] canβt produce a meal fit to eat, and the lovely shining bathroom is mostly a receptacle for deodorants, laxatives, sleeping pills, and the products of that confidence racket called the cosmetic industry. We make the finest packages in the world, Mr Marlowe. The stuff inside is mostly junk." β
All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.
There is no more cruel illusion than that war makes a people richer.
When God is our Holy Father, sovereignty, holiness, omniscience, and immutability do not terrify us; they leave us full of awe and gratitude. Sovereignty is only tyrannical if it is unbounded by goodness; holiness is only terrifying if it is untempered by grace; omniscience is only taunting if it is unaccompanied by mercy; and immutability is only torturous if there is no guarantee of goodwill.
When all the arguments have been forgotten, this central fact will remain. The two nations fought a single war, and their quarrels were the quarrels of brothers.
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