"So what quote are we chatting about today?" An interview series where interesting guests share a quote that's meaningful to them.
Hosted by Stephen Harrison, who has written for Slate, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
Larissa Bodniowycz is the solo traveler and digital nomad behind . She works remotely as an attorney for her clients as she travels the United States and internationally. Larissa describes herself as “the queen of half-eaten granola bars who loves to hike, trail run, and travel solo.”
What quote did she pick? Find out in #18
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Rich Finneran is a former federal prosecutor based in St. Louis who is running for Attorney General in Missouri. During his time as a federal prosecutor, Finneran handled two of the largest financial fraud cases ever prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Missouri. He was also a constitutional and appellate law instructor at Washington University School of Law.
LINK TO INTERVIEW IN BIO
STEPHEN HARRISON: SO WHAT QUOTE ARE WE CHATTING ABOUT TODAY?
Rich Finneran: I've selected a quote from the Bible. Ecclesiastes, chapter 9, verse 11, “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill, but time and chance happen to them all.”
READ THE REST.
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🎙️ Podcast on all platforms
A quote for those of us who are *writing by the window* during this pandemic, or doing any other sort of creative work: "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know." - Ernest Hemingway. Don't concentrate on making something monumental; that can lead to worry and self-doubt. Instead, focus on the next increment of your project -- the next sentence, the next few bars of music -- and let the momentum carry you through. And if you're looking for inspiration, aim for truth, reaching from your personal experience and observations.
Devoreaux Walton is an author, confidence coach, and YouTube personality who serves as the CEO and Founder at The Modern Lady, a lifestyle company that teaches women worldwide how to elevate their lives with elegance and poise. Her book Je Ne Sais Quoi offers tips on style, grooming, etiquette, and attitude. New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Scott wrote, “In a world where etiquette and manners seem to have gone extinct, Devoreaux Walton’s voice is sorely needed.”
LINK TO INTERVIEW: notesonquotes.com
STEPHEN HARRISON: SO WHAT QUOTE ARE WE CHATTING ABOUT TODAY?
Devoreaux Walton: Today’s quote is from the famous Maya Angelou. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
What a great quote! READ THE REST.
🎯 Notesonquotes.com
🎙️ Podcast on all platforms
Dr. Kathleen Smith is a therapist and the author of the book EVERYTHING ISN'T TERRIBLE. Her mental health writing provides smart, practical tools to help in these anxiety-ridden times. Smith writes a free anxiety newsletter, The Anxious Overachiever, which ’s Shannon Palus described as “hanging out with a friend who cares about your problems too.”
STEPHEN HARRISON: SO WHAT QUOTE ARE WE CHATTING ABOUT TODAY?
Kathleen Smith: My quote is from Viktor Frankl, who was a psychiatrist and a Holocaust survivor. He wrote a book that is still very popular today called Man’s Search for Meaning. And the quote is: “Live as if you were living already for the second time, and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now.”
WHY DOES THIS QUOTE RESONATE WITH YOU?.
I think it really sums up the work that I try and do with people as a therapist, and the work I’m always trying to do on myself! [laugh]. Read the rest of the interview LINK IN BIO or get the podcast on your platform of choice.
Svend Brinkmann was living a quiet life as a professor of psychology in Denmark when one of his nonfiction books became a surprise bestseller. Stand Firm: Resisting the Self-Improvement Craze argues against trendy self-help psychology that emphasizes self-esteem and personal growth. Brinkmann also wrote Standpoints: 10 Old Ideas in a New World, which features quotes from key figures ranging from Aristotle to Hannah Arendt. His latest book is The Joy of Missing Out, which the Financial Times described as “designed to liberate us from over-stimulated modern lives through the old fashioned ideas of restraint and moderation.”
Stephen Harrison: So what quote are we chatting about today?
Svend Brinkmann: I’ve chosen a quote by Søren Kierkegaard, who was a Dane like myself. The quote is very short but also quite complex, so we need to unpack it. It goes like this: “The self is a relation that relates to itself.” That’s the short version that’s actually part of a much longer context.
Read the rest of the interview at the link below or get the podcast on your platform of choice.
https://medium.com/notesonquotes/notes-on-quotes-14-svend-brinkmann-author-of-stand-firm-35e4b31df834?source=friends_link&sk=7eb8882e99c471c45bbd6e6805d9dd64
Svend Brinkmann was living a quiet life as a professor of psychology in Denmark when one of his books became a surprise bestseller.
is a professional juggler and variety entertainer who toured with Cirque du Soleil for five years. He’s also the author of the book Juggling: From Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Thom has performed in 12 countries and on four continents, including a run of his solo show on juggling at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Robert Vezina, Artistic Director of Cirque du Soleil described Thom as “a remarkably consistent performer… [h]e has my highest recommendation.”
This article has been edited, condensed, and annotated. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and elsewhere. Photo credit: ThomWall.com.
STEPHEN HARRISON: SO WHAT QUOTE ARE WE CHATTING ABOUT TODAY?
Thom Wall: It’s from this woman named Bronwyn Sims (.bronwyn). She’s a circus performer who is an acrobat, choreographer, and actor. She said, “Don’t show more. Hide less.”
DID BRONWYN SIMS TELL YOU THIS QUOTE IN PERSON?
Yes. She was teaching at Celebration Barn Theater, which is this phenomenal physical theater school in South Paris, Maine. Absolutely middle of nowhere, but it’s beautiful.
WHY IS THIS QUOTE MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
When you think of a juggler, you probably think about somebody on a unicycle juggling three torches, wearing a felt hat, and giving these schlocky looks to the audience—you know, pandering. This specific idea of exaggerating your emotions by contorting your face is called mugging—a term that Tony Montanaro, a very famous mime, used to use.
But that’s not an honest thing. If you’re walking down the street and you see somebody smiling to themselves, you think, Oh, that person’s happy. You don’t need them to be jumping up and down, showing all of their teeth.
I’ve found that your genuine emotional state is more likely to come through when you’re just trying to be as in the moment as you can, hiding as little as you can, without showing anything more than you absolutely have to.
DID YOU BEFRIEND OTHER PERFORMERS WHILE YOU WERE WORKING IN THE CIRCUS?
I actually learned this sense of minimalism from this friend of mine, an amazing Ukrainian clown named Misha Usov ().
Read the rest at notesonquotes.com
A darker quote today from French novelist and critic Marcel Proust: "We are healed from suffering only by experiencing it to the full." So often we try to bury emotional pain without allowing ourselves to truly feel it. But suppressing suffering does not make it go away (and in fact it often crops up later in new & jarring ways). Better then to observe and feel the pain fully because that allows the healing process to begin.
Staying at home and doing our best to also presents an opportunity to learn about and try new wines! 🍷
For the NOTES ON QUOTES series, I spoke with wine expert Elizabeth Schneider. After Elizabeth Schneider started her high-tech job in Boston, she realized that she was much more passionate about her hobby: wine. Now based in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, Schneider is a Certified Sommelier who hosts the popular podcast WINE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE and book of the same name. Her mission is to bring the love of wine to normal people, without pretense or snobbery. Wine critic Natalie MacLean described Schneider’s way of conceptualizing wine as “practical, yet so memorable.” For the episode, we had a lovely conversation about her favorite Einstein quote, the wine concept of terroir, how global trends like climate change are affecting the wine industry, and why the wine certification industry is such a scam. Link in comments.
During the past week of turbulence, I've been thinking about this quote from the Chinese philosopher and writer Lao Tzu. The quote comes in three parts:
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"If you are depressed you are living in the past." Often our sadness stems from regret over what might have been.
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"If you are anxious you are living in the future." The future is an anxious place. Because the future is unknown to us, it feels shaky and unstable.
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"If you are at peace you are living in the present." Our most peaceful moments are those in which we are living in the now, rather than the present or past.
Episode #11 features Jeremy Burge, the Founder and Chief Emoji Officer of EMOJIPEDIA, the online encyclopedia of emojis. He’s also the creator of World Emoji Day and Vice-Chair of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the panel which regularly reviews proposals for new emoji. Radio National in Australia has described Jeremy as the “Emoji King.”.
doesn’t have a personality like Steve Jobs. In fact, Jeremy is a candidate for nicest-ever tech founder. But Jeremy did select an insightful quote by Steve Jobs for us to discuss for the series. This quote allowed us to discuss the practical artistry of design. Link to the episode & article in bio.
@ Notes on Quotes
Episode #11 features Jeremy Burge, the Founder and Chief Emoji Officer of EMOJIPEDIA, the online encyclopedia of emojis. He’s also the creator of World Emoji Day and Vice-Chair of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the panel which regularly reviews proposals for new emoji. Radio National in Australia has described Jeremy as the “Emoji King.”.
doesn’t have a personality like Steve Jobs. In fact, Jeremy is a candidate for nicest-ever tech founder! But Jeremy did select an insightful quote by Steve Jobs for us to discuss for the series. The quote selection allowed us to discuss the practical artistry of design. Link to the episode & the article in bio.
Episode #11 features Jeremy Burge, the Founder and Chief Emoji Officer of EMOJIPEDIA, the online encyclopedia of emojis. He’s also the creator of World Emoji Day and Vice-Chair of the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee, the panel which regularly reviews proposals for new emoji. Radio National in Australia has described Jeremy as the “Emoji King.”.
doesn’t have a personality like Steve Jobs. In fact, Jeremy is a candidate for nicest-ever tech founder! But Jeremy did select an insightful quote by Steve Jobs for us to discuss for the series. The quote allowed us to discuss the practical artistry of design. Link to the episode in bio.
"As we distribute ourselves, we may abandon ourselves," writes Sherry Turkle, a psychologist who studies human relationships with technologies. A lot of us suspect that our use of computers and smart phones can affect us negatively. But I sometimes have a hard time putting into words what, exactly, are the bad side effects of tech overuse. This quote by Turkle helps identify the issue: "As we distribute ourselves, we may abandon ourselves." Regular posting on social media, reading lots of internet news, watching hours of YouTube videos....what are the consequences of all distribution across platforms? The unintended side effect is that we can lose track of who we are at our core and our internal beliefs and values. Once we recognize that risk, hopefully we can take precautions to avoid this accidental abandonment of self.
For the tenth episode of Notes on Quotes, author and former Google executive Jessica Powell shared a quote that's fundamental to understanding Silicon Valley.
Jessica Powell is the former vice president of communications for Google and served on the company’s management team. She’s the co-founder and CEO of a music software startup, and her short fiction, humor and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, TIME, Medium, and other publications. Her novel The Big Disruption is “a totally fictional but essentially true Silicon Valley story.” Technology journalist Kara Swisher said Powell is “an insider who has come outside, an insightful chronicler of the ridonkulous foibles of the digital overlords and a deft teller of tales.”.
Link to full article & episode in comments.
Earlier this month South Korean filmmaker B**g Joon Ho won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Film for "Parasite," the first non-English-language film to ever win the top prize at the Oscar's. In his acceptance speech, B**g said, "When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is, 'The most personal is the most creative.' That quote is from our great Martin Scorsese."
A lot of news outlets have focused on how gracious it was for B**g to thank his fellow nominee and competitor, which is so revealing of his character. But I zeroed in on how B**g describes the Scorsese quote. This was a quote that B**g "carved deep into [his] heart." Sometimes on social media we are quick to quote others when it is useful to us, especially when we are trying to reach for someone else's credibility or to be more persuasive. Yet this is a more utilitarian and rather shallow use of a quote. But there is another and more profound way to have a relationship with a quote: to carve it into your heart, that is, to incorporate the wisdom of a quote as a considered part of your identity. Have you developed this close relationship with a quotation that is special to you? What quotes have you carved into your heart?
Here's Steven Pruitt, the most prolific contributor to the English version of Wikipediaby edit count, sharing the quotation on his user page. We chatted about why he loves this particular quote for his Notes on Quotes interview: https://medium.com/notesonquotes/wikipedias-top-editor-steven-pruitt-shares-a-quote-757d770b5079?source=friends_link&sk=2909995392f6b29a4c256fb6e307f53c
Steven Pruitt is the most prolific contributor to the English language version of Wikipedia with over 3 MM edits. But I was curious about the man behind the stats. So I asked Pruitt to chat about the quote on his user page. Hint: He's a classical music fan.
Steven Pruitt is the most prolific contributor to the English language version of Wikipedia with more than 3 million edits to his name.
This quote opens the leadership chapter in EVERYTHING ISN'T TERRIBLE by . (Kathleen is coming on the show later this month!) Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl wrote, "So live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted the first time as wrongly as you are about to act now." How would you live your life differently if you adopted the perspective of retrospective clarity and seized the opportunity to change course this time around?
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton.
I am such a fan of this quote, which has me thinking that I should read the work of Edith Wharton. She’s the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature for her 1921 novel The Age of Innocence. Have you read Wharton?
I classify this as one of those Reminder Quotes. Here the reminder is about how to spread light in the world. Sometimes you’re the candle: full of creative energy, passion, and vision. In other circumstances, you’re not the one originating the light. It can be very discouraging when you are not the “candle” who is on fire, but don’t forget the “mirror” option to reflect and amplify the light from others.
Ari Ezra Waldman is a law professor and privacy advocate, and his interview for the NOTES ON QUOTES series is unlike any so far—instead of picking one of his favorite quotes like other guests, Waldman picked a quote that he found dangerous.
Waldman is a law professor and privacy advocate who is currently the Microsoft Visiting Professor of Information Technology at Princeton.
Barry Lam is a philosophy professor at Vassar College and host of the philosophy podcast Hi-Phi Nation. Here's him reading his quote from Bertrand Russell, one of the great intellectuals of the 20th century. Check out Episode #7 of Notes on Quotes to hear our discussion about this quote and how Barry interprets the unique wording "credulous animal."
Philosopher Barry Lam's quotation for the Notes on Quotes interview series came from a renowned 20th century British philosopher who famously conversed with Paul McCartney. Lam hosts the philosophy podcast Hi-Phi Nation.
https://medium.com/notesonquotes/notes-on-quotes-7-philosopher-barry-lam-shares-a-quote-cee928d6d629?source=friends_link&sk=752950b0094dcf5ef752bb620cea76a7
Welcome to Notes on Quotes, an interview series I which Stephen Harrison chats with interesting people about a quote that’s meaningful to…
Eliotte Woodford is a fabulously talented singer and dancer who has performed with Taylor Swift & Cher, among others. She performs under the stage name Eliotte Nicole. (We met each other through a ca****la singing back at Washington University in St. Louis! 🎵 The original Pitch Perfect...)
Eliotte chose a powerful quote from a famous choreographer for the new series Notes on Quotes.
Eliotte Nicole is a singer, dancer, and choreographer who has performed for seven years as a vocalist in Taylor Swift’s band.
Eliotte Nicole is a fabulously talented singer and dancer who has performed with Taylor Swift & Cher, among others. She chose this powerful quote from a famous choreographer for the interview series. *Link to the full interview in bio.*
This was a fascinating exchange in the interview with . He picked a quote from Thoreau about financial riches, but it was clear from our conversation that he had environmental issues on his mind. Then he shared that he viewed his blog as not simply about personal finance -- he was encouraging his readers to spend less in order to help the environment. Further, he had some suggestions on how to avoid seeming overtly political so that his environmental message would reach an even broader audience.
Before our conversation for Notes on Quotes, I was so curious about what quote Mr. Money Mustache would choose to talk about. Looking back, MMM picked the perfect quotation for his personal & financial philosophy:
Pete Adeney is a popular financial independence guru and the author of the Mr. Money Mustache blog, a leading voice in the FIRE movement.
Spotted these quotes at a friend’s PARKS AND RECREATION themed wedding shower🧐😁🎉👰.
Krys Boyd chose a quote about persistence for her interview, which prompted my question about the role of determination in this "fail faster" era. Especially with digital projects, we are so often encouraged to "fail faster" — at the first sign of deceleration, we are told to quickly abandon work and move onto the next idea. But Boyd's answer suggests we do this at our peril. Recognize the difference between "fail faster" initiatives and your true passion projects. Allow the former to develop over time, through steady practice and dedication. Remember also that there is more than one way to cross the mountain and achieve your goals.
Krys Boyd hosts the public radio show Think. She shared her favorite quote about persistence.
I grew up in Dallas listening to Krys Boyd’s Think on KERA public radio. I distinctly remember driving down Forest Lane my senior year of high school, listening to Krys Boyd’s KERA Think interview show, and thinking “This show is so much smarter than everything else on the radio.” That’s why it was a real treat to “interview-the-interviewer” for my new podcast & article series, on Quotes. Throughout the series, I’ll be chatting with 100 fascinating people about a quote that’s meaningful to them. Here’s Krys Boyd sharing her favorite quote about persistence ➡️ https://medium.com/notesonquotes/public-radio-host-krys-boyd-shares-a-quote-672a94377b47?source=friends_link&sk=f4a5002f52b77166211c8636283d9856
A guest for an upcoming episode of picked a lovely quote from Paulo Coelho's THE ALCHEMIST, which is one of those classic books that I have not yet read. But don't worry...I'm remedying that in short order! Anyway, I just came to the scene where the Old Man dispenses these words to Santiago: "And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." So often we think that the universe is conspiring AGAINST our dreams, throwing up obstacles and distractions. But what if it's the other way around? What if the universe is actually HELPING us in our journey, orchestrating these serendipitous occurrences and relationships to guide us along? When you look at it this way, you see your own fear as what's holding you back--not the universe. Further, the universe is your ally in achieving - as Coehlo writes - your "personal legend."
This Is Like Totally a Quote Book.
Have you ever felt like you were playing background music? spent the early part of his career before his band took off playing jazz music at events like wedding cocktail hours, where he was expected to play quietly. I asked him how that felt playing in the background: Did he wonder if anyone was listening? Scott's reply was both beautiful and practical: A. As an artist, you have to give it 100%, for both small and large performances alike. B. Latch onto the few people who are engaged--they are your true audience. C. Remember that not everyone is going to be your audience. You are making creative work for somebody, not for everybody. And D. Don't forget to bring home your (literal or metaphorical) doggy bag from those early gigs!
Notes on Quotes, Episode #2: Bina Venkataraman was adviser for climate change innovation in the Obama White House. She's the author of THE OPTIMIST'S TELESCOPE: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age.
https://medium.com/notesonquotes/former-presidential-climate-adviser-bina-venkataraman-shares-a-quote-10f4590a4298?source=friends_link&sk=fe8d023bcccd1f9a85ba8282ef07f4b4
For the first episode of the new podcast NOTES ON QUOTES,
Scott Bradlee, founder of Postmodern Jukebox, shares a quote from his hero, the jazz musician Miles Davis. Follow on Quotes for in-depth conversations about quotes that matter. 🎺✍️
12 DAYS OF QUOTEMAS - Day 12. This quote from Maya Angelou sums it up perfectly: “I bring everyone who has ever been kind with me.” When you have the opportunity to celebrate, bring those people with you. If you have the chance to help, bring them as well. Wherever life takes you, don't forget to partner with those who have shown you kindness.
I've had fun these past 12 days decorating my tiny apartment Christmas tree with little quote ornaments. Today I'm celebrating the holiday & enjoying time with family. But the launch of the podcast is just days away—starting Jan 6, 2020. I've excited to share some of the interesting conversations I've had with people about the quotes that matter to them. Until then! 🎄
12 DAYS OF QUOTEMAS - Day 11. Confession: My Christmas Eve ornament has unfortunately been delayed in the mail, so I'm posting this other favorite quote with another ornament designed by . "Not all who wander are lost," wrote J.R.R. Tolkien in a poem appearing in the Lord of Rings. Keep in mind this next year that wandering isn't necessarily a bad thing; discovery and experimentation are instead part of the creative process as well as life itself.
Each day I'm decorating my tiny apartment tree with an ornament featuring a quote. Follow for the series. 🎄
12 DAYS OF QUOTEMAS - Day 10. I love this quote from American poet Walt Whitman and this wood-burned ornament captures it perfectly. Kudos to for the design. Let's fill this next year with traveling and companionship with the ones we love.
Each day I'm decorating my tiny apartment tree with an ornament featuring a quote. Follow for the series. 🎄
12 DAYS OF QUOTEMAS - Day 9. A little sunshine on the tree today for this favorite Ghandi quote. ☀️ "Be the change you wish to see in the world," Ghandi said. It can be quite depressing to reflect on the flaws of the world, but a lot of that pessimism comes from seeing yourself as an observer. If we instead think of ourselves as agents of change, and free ourselves to take meaningful action, then we might well change the course of history.
Each day I'm decorating my tiny apartment tree with an ornament featuring a quote. Follow for the series. 🎄
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Barry Lam is a philosophy professor at Vassar College and host of the philosophy podcast Hi-Phi Nation. Here's him reading his quote from Bertrand Russell, one of the great intellectuals of the 20th century. Check out Episode #7 of Notes on Quotes to hear our discussion about this quote and how Barry interprets the unique wording "credulous animal." . . . #notesonquotes #hiphination #barrylam #quoteoftheday #bertrandrussell #philosophy #bertrandrussellquote
Eliotte Nicole is a fabulously talented singer and dancer who has performed with Taylor Swift & Cher, among others. She chose this powerful quote from a famous choreographer for the @notesonquotes interview series. *Link to the full interview in bio.*
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