Dr. Seuss

• You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
  
  
• Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

黎堅惠

活了半輩子，學得一樣很重要的：就是每個人只能為自己負責，不能為他人負責 (負得一時負不了一世)，而每個人到這個世上來，都要為自己的生活、生命負責，所以明確的個人界線是你如何活出自己的必然一步。當你的個人版圖越來越寬闊，個人自由就越來越多，版圖邊界向外擴充，能夠埋身的人亦越來越少，這是一個取捨和平衡的問題，沒有好與壞。(Boundary)

Albert Ellis

• The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.
  
  
• Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they're alive and human.
  
  
• By not caring too much about what people think, I'm able to think for myself and propagate ideas which are very often unpopular. And I succeed.
  
  
• People could rationally decide that prolonged relationships take up too much time and effort and that they'd much rather do other kinds of things. But most people are afraid of rejection.
  
  
• There are three musts that hold us back: I must do well. You must treat me well. And the world must be easy.
  
  
• There's no evidence whatsoever that men are more rational than women. Both sexes seem to be equally irrational.

Anne Lamott

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us. (from Traveling Mercies)

亦舒

從來沒有讀過亦舒，但偶然見到這些金句，蠻認同的。

• 無論做什麼，記得為自己而做，那就毫無怨言。 —— 《流金歲月》
  
  
• 能夠哭就好，哭是開始痊癒的象徵 。 —— 《絕對是個夢》
  
  
• 凡事想別人感激，那是必然要失望的 。 —— 《故園》
  
  
• 生活中無論有什麼閃失，統統是自己的錯，與人無尤，從錯處學習改過，精益求精，直至不犯同一錯誤，從不把過失推諉到他人肩膀上去，免得失去學乖的機會 。 —— 《阿修羅》
  
  
• 人一定要受過傷才會沉默專注，無論是心靈或肉體上的創傷，對成長都有益處 。 —— 《花解語》
  
  
• 失去的東西，其實從來未曾真正地屬於你，也不必惋惜。 —— 《玫瑰的故事》
  
  
• 何必向不值得的人證明什麼，生活得更好，乃是為你自己 。 —— 《忽而今夏》
  
  
• 人生短短數十載，最要緊是滿足自己，不是討好他人。 —— 《美麗新世界》
  
  
• 人是那樣複雜的一種動物，想瞭解對方根本是不可能的一件事，沒有瞭解，又不能相處，倒不如獨身。 —— 《美嬌裊》
  
  
• 你要改是因為你自己願意改，不要為任何人，怕只怕那人會令你失望，你又得打回原形。 —— 《不易居》
  
  
• 有得有失，才是人生，切忌忿忿不平。 —— 《天上所有的星》
  
  
• 結婚與戀愛毫無關系，人們老以為戀愛成熟后便自然而然的結婚，卻不知結婚只是一種生活方式，人人可以結婚，簡單得很。愛情……完全是另外一回事。——《我的前半生》
  
  
• 人際關係這一門科學永遠沒有學成畢業的一日，每天都似投身于砂石中，緩緩磨動，皮破血流之餘所積得的寶貴經驗便是一般人口中的圓滑。——《我的前半生》
  

The Alchemist

Quotes from The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

• It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.


• Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.


• It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.


• To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation. All things are one. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.


• The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.


• Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense.


• Love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny.


• When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.


• Life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny.


• God only rarely reveals the future. When he does so, it is for one reason: it's a future that was written so as to be altered.


• A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such speed. It feels an impulsion ... this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond the horizons.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

*

[Atticus Finch to Scout] You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.

*

[Atticus Finch to Scout] Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

*

[Miss Maudie Atkinson to Scout] Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

*

[Calpurnia to Scout] Don't matter who they are, anybody sets foot in this house, they are company and don't let me catch you remarking on their ways like you were so high and mighty. That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear? And if you can't act fit to eat like folks, you can just set here and eat in the kitchen.

*

[Sheriff Tate to Atticus Finch] There's a black man dead for no reason. Now the man responsible for it is dead. Let the dead bury the dead this time Mr. Finch. I never heard tell it was against the law for any citizen to do his utmost to prevent a crime from being committed, which is exactly what he did. But maybe you'll tell me it's my duty to tell the town all about it and not to hush it up. Well you know what'll happen then? All the ladies in Maycomb including my wife will be knocking on his door bringing angel food cakes. To my way of thinking, taking the one man who's done you and this town a big service and dragging him with his shy ways into the limelight - to me that's a sin... it's a sin. And I'm not about to have it on my head. I may not be much Mr. Finch, but I'm still sheriff of Maycomb County and Bob Ewell fell on his knife. Good night sir.

*

清醒記：合適

《清醒記》的「合適」，安妮寶貝

*

當愛得以成立，一切變得恰如其分。

閱人無數，歷經滄桑也好。遊戲人生，嬉笑怒罵也好。放蕩不覊，輕描淡寫也好。心灰意懶，堅不可摧也好。只要你在愛，你就依舊是十六歲的少女。白衣藍裙，頭髮上粘著芳香的梔子花瓣，睜着無辜的眼睛，一顆惴惴不安的水晶般的心。

你仿佛遺忘了所有的人與事。只為與他相見。他為你重新打開一個童年的世界。滿足你對感情有過的一切期許。所有屬於時間的塵土自動粉碎跌落。你因為他而變得簡單，剔透，並且天真。所以，他是那個 Right Man。

你會知道，遇見一個對的男人，有多難。

*

Micah

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

清醒記：流深

《清醒記》的「流深」，安妮寶貝

*

水一旦流深，就會發不出聲音。人的感情一旦深厚，也就會顯得淡薄。

我不覺得那些呼朋引伴，身邊始終有大堆人圍繞的社交動物，內心深處會沒有寂寞。真實而深厚的感情絕對不會有一個熱鬧的表象。

越是年長，越難得到朋友。因為你很難再願意去屈就和妥協別人。所以很多人輕易地熱鬧群聚著喝酒吃飯，高談闊論。即使不了了之，彼此心里也沒有絲毫留戀。這是社交動物的方式。只要不談感情，就很干脆。

素來不喜混任何圈子，因自覺缺乏場面功夫，只願意用真實性情與人交往。從不恭維也不詆毀。以此心才是公正清潔的。

會敬重善良的人。因為他們是懂得照顧及為對方設置立場的人，聰明放其後。實在是有一些讓人不喜歡的聰明人。聰明因不善良而更顯猥瑣。不用列舉特征。這樣一對比，善良的人就像花香，需要仔細體會，并且可以長久回味。

在習慣一次性消費的時代，人的感情是否也能堅韌到足夠支撐多次的短暫消費。

醉笑陪君三千場，不訴離傷。人與人之間的這份鄭重而留戀的對待，也許已經是奢侈的事，但值得追尋。

*

We're Extremely Fortunate

by Wislawa Szymborska

*

We're extremely fortunate
not to know precisely
the kind of world we live in.

One would have
to live a long, long time,
unquestionably longer
than the world itself.

Get to know other worlds,
if only for comparison.

Rise above the flesh,
which only really knows
how to obstruct
and make trouble.

For the sake of research,
the big picture
and definitive conclusions,
one would have to transcend time,
in which everything scurries and whirls.


From that perspective,
one might as well bid farewell
to incidents and details.

The counting of weekdays
would inevitably seem to be
a senseless activity;

dropping letters in the mailbox
a whim of foolish youth;

the sign "No Walking On The Grass"
a symptom of lunacy.

*

清醒記: 愛人

《清醒記》的「愛人」，安妮寶貝

*

愛一個人，是一件簡單的事。就好像用杯子裝滿一杯水，清清涼涼地喝下去。你的身體体需要它，感覺自己健康和愉悅。以此認定它是一個好習慣。所以願意日日夜夜重複。

愛一個人，沒有成為一件簡單的事，那一定是因為感情深度不夠。若要懷疑，從價值觀直到皮膚的毛孔，都會存在分歧。一條一條地揪出來，彼此挑剔和要求。恨不能讓對方高舉雙手臣服。但或許臣服也并沒有用。

因為你就是愛這個人不夠。所以連他多說一句話都會有錯。

年少的愛情，務必要血肉橫飛才算快意。玩具已經不是所需要的款型，但習慣了抓在手里，所以依舊丟不下。一邊抱怨一邊絕對不離不棄。置身感情之中并不懂得寬憫。除了需索還是需索。開口質問必是，你為什麼不再愛我。仿佛愛是所有企圖的終極。

要過很久，才會明白，愛，并不是一個事件。一種追尋。也不針對任何一個确定的對方。不是拿來滿足自己自私及自大內心的工具，也不是用來對抗虛無本質的武器。它只是一種思維方式。它是一種信仰。

一定不能想要在對方身上獲取你所缺失的東西。不管是物質還是感情。原諒對方也是脆弱的有缺失的人，又怎麼能夠去奢求他的保護及成全。即使你需要一個偶像。但那一定不會是你的愛人。不要希望互相拯救。

他應更像是你獨自在荒涼旅途中，偶然邂逅的旅伴。夜晚花好月圓，你們各自走過漫漫疲憊長路，覺得日子寂寞而又溫情跌宕。所以，互相邀約在山谷的梨花樹下，擺一壺酒，長夜傾談。

它是願意在某段時間里，與一個人互相交換歷史，記憶及時間的信任。交換各自生命中重要而隱匿的部分。卻對各自無所求。

當它已經存在的時候，就已經失去所謂的結果。

*

吳淡如

吳淡如的散文節錄

*

男人的心思也很矛盾，如果女人不順著他意，他會覺得她難搞，如果女人全為他而活，他又會覺得她可欺，沒有甚麼挑戰，跟她在一起，食之無味棄之可惜。(愛到靈魂都出賣)

*

一個好情人應該是：和你即使經過感情崩裂、誤會與分手，也還能夠不傷害你，不因自己的欲望而企圖控制你的自由意志。

在他最多疑最傷心時，還能想到你的處境，體諒你的心情。(愛過頭就成恐怖片)

*

不管別人如何發掘你、激勵你、提早訓練你，如果自己不肯訓練自己，還是很難在勝利之路上長長久久的走下去。(成功的人都是自己的教練)

*

又寂寞又美好

書摘自《又寂寞又美好》，幾米

*

我打開門，請你進來。
屋里光線昏暗，
讓我為你點一盞燈；
你若能暫時停留，
我會為你泡一壺熱茶。

屋外异常靜謐。
天也漸漸暗了下來。
階前的花貓，
專注地凝視遠方，
一只野鳥突然從矮樹叢里竄出，
惊慌地飛入烏云里……
世界時時刻刻在變幻，
我們必須找尋一個緩慢悠靜的時空。

你還在猶豫嗎？
門要關了。


*

夢見
走在無人的曠野，
視線朦朧，
手上的光亮即時隱去。

我在寂寞的世界
不停地趕路，
不斷地告訴自己，
就快到了，
就快到了。

路不斷展向前方，
狂風在我耳邊呼嘯… …

呼的一聲，
我突然凌空飛起。

*


月亮升起來時，我抹去眼淚。

一隻座頭鯨，忽然躍出水面，
在我眼前歡快地跳舞唱歌。

但為甚麼我仍然無法遏止
心中那源源不絕的悲傷呢?

*

她在一個沒有站名的車站下車。
說來奇怪，此後往來的汽車再也不曾在此靠站，
最后甚至連車站也消失了。
她記得車站的每一個角落，地磚的圖案，
天花板的色彩，欄杆的形狀，
但是卻記不得她為何在這站下了站。

汽車一直往前走，
最後，她連揮手的力气都消失了。

*

地下鐵

書摘自《地下鐵》，幾米

*

我在擁擠的車廂裡，迷失了方向。
雖然睜開眼睛，卻仍昏昏欲睡… …

*

在這個城市裡，我不斷地迷路。
不斷地坐錯車，並一再下錯車。
常常不知道自己在哪裡? 要去什麼地方?
常常迷迷糊糊闖入多霧的沼澤，深陷泥淖進退兩難。
還好，守護天使一直眷顧著我。

*

總在跌跌撞撞之後才仿彿明白，很多事情是不能強求的。

*

誰願意為我在黃昏的窗邊唸一首詩。
歡樂人潮散去，誰來溫暖這寂寞的空間。

但在聽到悠揚的樂聲奏起時，卻也聞到濃嗆的煙味。

*

我疲累不堪。下一站是哪裡?
會不會有一列永不停駛的地下鐵?

*


我在地下鐵的出口，莫名地放聲哭泣，
難道只是為了一把遺忘在車廂裡的雨傘?
濕透的衣裳，終究會乾。

*

也許我們該坐下來，悠閑地喝杯茶，訴說未來的希望。
其實，我哪裡都不想去。
然而，會有人在地下鐵的出口等我嗎?
他會為我撐傘，緊握著我的手，告訴我星星的方向，陪我走一段路。
我是否太過奢求。

我總是忘記跟你說聲謝謝! 謝謝你一直陪伴著我。

*

我在紛擾的城市裡，尋尋覓覓。
尋找一顆最甜美的紅蘋果。
一片遺落的金葉子。
尋找心中隱約閃爍的光亮。

*

能看出女人脆弱的感性男人

節錄自「能看出女人脆弱的感性男人」，吳淡如

*

能幹的女人似乎都有一個弱點：她們不喜歡男人把她當成無敵女金剛，總在夢想著，當她脆弱時，有一個肩膀可以靠一靠，她不要男人只看中她的堅強。

當他看出她的軟弱，而她也真的正處于低潮時，愛神的箭就牢牢射中她的心。

再堅強的女人，在她累了的時候，都很需要安慰。她會喜歡在情人面前賣弄一點無能，喜歡對著情人說一兩句幼稚至极的撒嬌話，喜歡他拍拍她的頭或她的肩膀說：「怎么了？」、「有什么需要我幫忙的嗎？」

*

再強悍的女人都有「好騙」的地方，她們最需要男人同理心的支持。

女人喜歡愛人看出她的脆弱，這常使得個性堅強的女人義無反顧地愛上一個男人。但是她們更期待，与她在一起的男人，在她最脆弱的時候，可以挺出他的肩膀，給她力量。

遺憾的是，看得出女人脆弱點的男人，多半感性有余，理性未必足夠，肩膀也不見得夠硬。跟這樣的男人在一起，女人終究還是會領悟：「唉，還是自己最可靠。」

*

Married (Happily) With Issues

Excerpts from Married (Happily) With Issues, by Elizabeth Weil

*

I've never really believed that you just marry one day at the altar or before a justice of the peace. I believe that you become married — truly married — slowly, over time, through all the road-rage incidents and precolonoscopy enemas, all the small and large moments that you never expected to happen and certainly didn’t plan to endure. But then you do: you endure.

*

Still, night after night, I'd slide into bed next to Dan. He often slept in a white T-shirt and white boxer briefs, a white-cased pillow wrapped over his head to block out my reading light, his toppled stacks of cookbooks and workout manuals strewn on the floor. He looked like a baby, fresh and full of promise. In psychiatry, the term "good-enough mother" describes the parent who loves her child well enough for him to grow into an emotionally healthy adult. The goal is mental health, defined as the fortitude and flexibility to live one's own life — not happiness. This is a crucial distinction. Similarly the "good-enough marriage" is characterized by its capacity to allow spouses to keep growing, to afford them the strength and bravery required to face the world.

*


+ Published in The New York Times, on December 1, 2009 +

Wilson Mizner

• God help those who do not help themselves.


• I respect faith, but doubt is what gives you an education.


• To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.


• A fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions.


• I hate careless flattery, the kind that exhausts you in your efforts to believe it.

Almost a Foreign Country

Aphorisms from Almost a Foreign Country, by Manfred Wolf

• Those who set preconditions for happiness will not achieve it.


• After we die, we belong wholly to the distortions of the living.


• Beware of those who have never caught a glimpse of their own masks and disguises.


• Admitting a vice doesn't turn it into a virtue.


• We love to categorize others as much as we hate being categorized.

(to be continued... still reading this book!)

Jacob Bronowski

The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation.