Lately, I have been collecting pictures of people I admire and then adding quotes attributed to them which also highlight some of my own personal philosphies and axioms. Below I have posted them and some quick explanations. Enjoy!
Stephen Fry is a bit of a role model for me. He a British comedian and writer, lover of all things internet, and also gay. I'm not saying that I want to be gay, but I find their fight for equal rights inspiring as well as a good excuse to piss off aristocrats and small-minded morons. He has a deeply interesting personality which shines in such shows as QI and Stephen Fry in America. This quote embodies my belief in the truth and tolerance.
Dean from the movie The Iron Giant. His quote becomes a central theme as the Iron Giant has decide between thinking for himself or being a mindless weapon. I agree with Dean in that you should never let someone else decide who you are, you need to decide who you are.
The Big Lebowski.....people either love or hate this movie. At first I was the former, now the latter. This scene always struck me as strange and slightly supernatural. The line is meant to convey my feeling that in order to succeed in life, one must be able to conform to any situation. Don't be rigid, especially when it comes to opinions.
As many of you know, one of my main sayings is that "Convention is the devil". I hate convention, so much so that I go out of my way to oppose it. I'm not a fan of Zappa's music, but I dig his self-confidence in being different, making his own rules. People like him are the reason for progress. Remaining the same or accepting the status quo only invites stagnation and boredom.
Kurt Vonnegut, one of the biggest critics of war. I can never really understand why anyone supports war. Its an indescribably awful event. While I have never experienced one first-hand, only an uninformed idiot would think that war is a walk in the park. I hold human life to be sacred. We were not meant to kill each other like animals, but to care for each other like human beings.
This rolls in the same veins as Zappa's quote. As a scientist, I often cannot help myself to question everything. Too often, people simply accept information given to them, without even thinking about it or considering whether or not it makes logical sense. Our human brains are the most complex on the planet. It's the gift of evolution that allows us to talk, feel, and innovate. Don't waste that gift by not thinking for yourself, making your own opionions.
Woody Guthrie. Again, not a fan of his music, but his guitar graffiti really strikes a cord with me. In the end, its the arts and sciences which propel people towards rebellion....an innate need to live your life as you see fit. Music and books are tools to fight repression and small-minded bigots and tyrants. The simplicity of this powerful statement on Guthrie's guitar is brilliant.
Freddy Mercury. There are no quotes, just this iconic photo taken at the infamous Wembley Stadium concert. I simply admire him and think that Queen was one of the most kick-ass rock bands of the century. It personifies my belief that being confident, whether it be real or conjured, is supremely important for making friends and getting through life in general.
