Innocence Reclaimed

Innocence reclaimed can be just as powerful as innocence born. You simply have to choose to be good.

Glinda from Once Upon a Time "Kansas"

 



Although it is expected and preferred that someone is born with and maintains innocence for their entire life, I think that it is very unrealistic to think that someone can remain this way for such a prolonged time. Life is too cruel and it takes its toll on everyone. Second, I think that people need to lose a small part of innocence in order to fully appreciate how good life was when they were completely innocent.

 

Simple Acts

I have found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay; simple acts of kindness and love.

Gandalf from "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

 

 

Ever since I read the first “Lord of the Rings” book, I have always loved the character of Gandalf. To me, his character is one that presents a pretense of unassuming wisdom but who has great power within. That is why I think this quote represents him so well. In a way his fireworks are an example of the small deeds of ordinary folk. They were simple things but they created a lasting impression of hope in the children who saw them.

 

Majority Agrees

Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority agrees.                                             

Katrina Crane from Sleepy Hollow "The Sin Eater"

 

I must admit I am really surprised by the fate of the character of Katrina. Throughout most of the show, Katrina had always seemed like the person to whom the other characters looked to for moral guidance. I assumed she would not go to the dark side just because of some pressure from her son.

 

 

Without the Pain

Sometimes we'd never know what's wrong without the pain. Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.

The Fray "All at Once" 

 

This quote brings to mind the debate over whether the cup is half full or half empty. I think that even pain can have a positive learning experience. I am a person that believes that you can appreciate the good all the more when you have suffered the bad.

Most Destructive Force

You know the most destructive force in the universe? Regret.

Agent K from "Men in Black 3"

 

 

Sadly in life, we only have one shot to make our existence mean something; in that way regret is the most destructive force in the universe. Regret can poison your heart and cause you to lose sight of the beautiful things in life. To live a long life with regret is worse than living a short life in which an individual enjoys every minute of it.

 

A New Life

What good is a new life if you don't have anyone to share it with?

Regina Mills from Once Upon a Time "Welcome to Storybrooke"

This quote is for February 22, 2015. Regina is such a complex character and one that changes so often during the show. In a way, the curse Regina cast on her kingdom was more of a second chance than it was a method of revenge. The one insight she failed to see was that a second chance is not worth it if you are alone, which she was even though she was surrounded by people who saw her as the mayor, not the evil queen. Regina still has not learned that relationships with people will heal her and make her happy.

 

Value of a Sacrifice

The value of a sacrifice lies in it's necessity, not in throwing your life away.

Veronica Roth in "Insurgent"

This quote is for February 21, 2015. Many people do not get the chance to sacrifice their life to save someone else’s. However, sacrifice does not need to be such a grand gesture. Also, sacrifices should not be thrown carelessly. Sacrifices are a way to show a person that you genuinely care for someone with such a passion that it becomes, in a way, a necessity. A sacrifice should never put anyone in unnecessary danger, because then it would just cause too much pain and guilt for the receiver of the sacrifice.

Losing Your Soul

Losing your soul will cost you more than the life you're paying for. And all those friends you left behind. You might need 'em when it's cold outside.

Rebecca Ferguson in "Glitter & Gold"

   

It seems to me that there are only two options in life. The first is that you can give up on meaningful relationships, while hardening your soul, in order to successfully achieve power, fame and money. Or you can try to save your soul by remaining less successful and wealthy, while really putting effort into relationships. I may be seeing the world too black and white, but I think there may be some truth behind my opinion. I think that some people are successful because they spend their time and effort on their careers, acting more like a machine than a human being. I can understand this choice because I may have similar goals. However, I know that if you let your career rule your life, so much so that you start making corrupt choices in order to get ahead, you may lose your soul.

Person You Wanted to Be

Life can get confusing and you lose sight of the person you wanted to be. Sometimes you have to go through hell and back to see that the problems you thought were so big in life weren't so big after all.

Justin from "Let's Be Cops"

 

 

It is amazing, and when I say amazing I mean annoying, that time can pass by so fast and yet we remain the same. We somehow lose sight of our dreams and find ourselves frozen in routines, which we despise. And yet when there is a major change, we realize that the problems of a predictable routine is nothing compared to the problems that can happen unexpectedly in life.

 

 

 

Who Do You Become

The world is full of evil and lies and pain and death. You can't hide from it. You can only face it. The question is... when you do how do you respond? Who do you become?

Agent Coulson from Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D "Seed"

 

 

I love to watch the Marvel movies because it deals with the conflict and complexity of the fight between good and bad. Although there are always the obvious heroes and villains of the Marvel worlds, the shows and movies can also show that it is all too easy for a hero to turn evil and a villain to turn good. I think Agent Coulson’s quote plays to this complexity. I think there is always a moment, whether in the movies or in reality, when a person is on the precipice of figuring out who this individual is when facing conflict.

 

Raise Your Cup

Hope that you spend your days and they all add up. And when that sun goes down, hope you raise your cup.

OneRepublic in "I Lived"

 

 

At the end of our life all that really matters is if we spent our life to the best of our ability. An individual could be rich, famous and powerful, but if he or she lived in misery then that person wasted a lifetime. By spending every day to its fullest, a person has something to celebrate and they definitely earned the right to raise their cup.

A Trusted Person

If anyone is to be trusted, it is not the person who seizes power. It is the person who turns it down.

Amy Butler Greenfield in “Chantress”

 

 

Since today is President’s Day, I thought this quote is fitting. To be a leader is a very difficult responsibility to hold on one’s shoulder. I think that there are some individuals who do not want to be a leader because they understand how important a leader’s role is and they do not want to fail at this. In my opinion, the people who will do anything for power are the ones who deserve it the least. I think that to be a good president, an individual needs to hold the needs of his or her people above all else.

 

Happy President's Day

 

 

No Greater Isolation

There is no greater isolation a man may experience than to be lonely in a crowd. He may nod, and smile, and say the right thing, but even by this pretense his soul is pushed further away from the kinship of men.

Claire North in "The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August"

 

Speaking with experience, I understand how hard it can feel to be sitting in the middle of a crowd while feeling so alone. Some people choose this isolation because of fear or anger. Others do not fit in with the crowd because they are truly unique. No matter the reason why they feel alone, it will always hurt to be so remote. However, I think that the strongest people are those who can embrace the loneliness and who are comfortable enough with themselves to spend that much time alone.  



Not Perfect

Life is not perfect. It shouldn't be perfect. It should be unpredictable and irrational and complicated.

Judd Altman from "This is Where I Leave You"

 



 

In staying with the theme of love for Valentine’s Day, I thought this quote was fitting. Love, just like life, is never perfect. We all dream of the perfect soul mate, but often our reality falls a little short. However, this should not discourage because I think relationships, just like everything else in our lives, needs to have faults that challenge us. If there are no mistakes then I think we would not experience the growth and gratitude that comes from failures and setbacks. Judd Altman stepped out of his miserable routine when two major incidents made him question his life choices. Although he came out of these incidences in pain, he was ultimately a better person for it.

Happy Valentine’s Day

 

 

Meant to Have

Regret can change the direction of your life.
Or stop you from living the one you're meant to have.

Ichabod Crane and Abbie Mills from Sleepy Hollow "Spellcaster"

 

 

Regret is a funny thing, in my opinion. It can change a person’s life both in a positive way or a negative way. A person can make a mistake but his or her regret can help them ensure he or she does not repeat the mistake. On the other hand, a person can be so devastated from their regret that he or she cannot move on from his or her regret. In Sleepy Hollow, both Ichabod and Abbie have made many mistakes, some which have cost them the people they love, but they do not let that ruin their future.

 

Cannot Be Replaced

You don't have to feel like a waste of space. You're original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds. After a hurricane comes a rainbow.

Katy Perry in "Firework"

 

I feel that there is not one person who is a waste of space. No matter if an individual is destructive or helpful, he or she influences the world around them. Each human has qualities that make them unique. The impressions we make each day on the environment and the people around us cannot be replaced because these impressions come from a one of a kind person.

Mightier Than You Would Like

Sometimes the people you oppress become mightier than you would like.

Veronica Roth “Insurgent”

 

 

For anyone who has studied history, it is evident that empires rise but they always fall. And usually they fall by the hands of the people who they have oppressed or who they have made enemies of. The fall of empires should be a reminder to all of us. If we treat others in a cruel way or an unfair way, the consequences of our actions can haunt us.

 

 

Happiness Found

You know happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.

Albus Dumbledore from "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

 

 

I can only imagine how many times this quote has been used in high school graduation speeches, but I still love it. It’s simplicity and yet wisdom represents the character of Dumbledore, to me at least. He was a character that held a plethora of wisdom, but who could have a respectful personality that warmed the heart of those around him. I feel that he was the light of the series, the light that made reading or watching this series enjoyable.

 

Fight for What You Want

A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.

Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time “The Crocodile”

 

This boils down to the simple message that if you don’t try, you will never succeed. Those who take risks are usually the ones who receive what they want and those who never try will never know the wonders of what they are missing. Even though it is scary, taking risks can pay off big time. However, there is a fine line between taking risks and being careless. The trick is to find a balance between taking risks and weighing the consequences.

 

 

 

Learns to Fly

When you've been fighting for it all your life. You've been struggling to make things right. That's how a superhero learns to fly. Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power.

 

The Script in "Superheroes"

 

 

When we think about what makes an individual a hero, I feel we expect them to have a perfect past and no flaws. However, I believe that a superhero, whether they have a cape or not, must have experienced pain and loss. These experiences help an individual feel determination, sympathy and wisdom; which makes a common individual a superhero.

 



Adversity's Test

Adversity tests one's strength of character. In difficult times, in dark times, some people shine.

Cassandra Clare in "The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls"

Cassandra Clare’s characters from “The Mortal Instruments” series were no strangers to danger and adversity. They faced villains, demons, and betrayals, but they were still able to fight for good. It is often hard to fight adversity and it really does test how strong an individual is. For the people who are strong enough to survive adversity, their victory can bring many opportunities.

 

Part of the Land

Some say our destiny is tied to the land, as much a part of us as we are of it. Others say fate is woven together, so once destiny intertwines with many others it's the one thing we search for or fight to change. Some never find it, but there are some who are led.

Merida from Brave

 

 

There is no doubt that the movie “Brave” is tied to nature; Merida’s mother transformed into a bear and Merida spent the majority of her time riding her horse through the country side or climbing mountains. The people of Merida’s world depended on nature and its benefits, as did all ancient races. I love this quote because I cannot stress enough the importance of nature. Not only does nature provide the important benefits found from agriculture, but I think nature nurtures our souls and connect us to our ancestors of old.

 

 

Far Flung Hopes and Improbable Dreams

I am and always will be the optimist. The hoper of far flung hopes and dreamer of improbable dreams.

The Doctor from Doctor Who "The Almost People"

 

 

I think out of all the quotes from the current Doctor Who series, this one represents the Doctor the best. The Doctor always stands for the underdog and he proved this in this episode and the previous episode “The Rebel Flesh.” The Doctor saw the potential and humanity of the substance called the flesh, which acted as doppelgangers of the workers of an acid mine, when all others saw only monsters. He dreamed the improbable dream that humans and their “flesh” would be able to coincide with each other. Through his determination and optimism, he helped the humans and their flesh to find peace with each other.

 

 

 

　

 

　

　
　

I'm Over It

They tell us from the time we're young to hide the things that we don't like about ourselves, inside ourselves. I know I'm not the only one who spent so long attempting to be someone else. Well I'm over it.

Mary Lambert in "Secrets"

 

 

Surprisingly, with all the “unique” (by “unique” I mean outright strange) personalities in Hollywood, our society is one that does not tolerate individuals that do not fit a certain mold. If a person has original ideas or a creative way of looking at life, they are shunned, especially if they do not follow the expectations that are put in place for them. I know in past posts, I have voiced many complaints about how society and the media treats and abuses women. Oddly enough, the lyrics of this song brought to mind the abuses that are placed on some men (not all). There are some men who are trapped in the expectation to be the tradition male that is expected of them. In my opinion, if a man does not have muscles, a confidence bordering on arrogance, a protective nature bordering on obsession and no emotion except for anger, he is considered a failure as a man. I feel that there are many people, both men and women, who should be able to express their true personality (as long as this personality does not hurt others), regardless if it reflects gender expectations.

Bend Before Break

Forgiveness doesn't come easy for you, I see. Sometimes you have to bend so as not to break, dear.

Danielle Paige in “Dorothy Must Die”

 

 

Forgiveness is not easily given. Unfortunately, it is easier to hold on to anger than it is to give mercy. Sometimes giving forgiveness is more healthy and necessary for the person giving than for the person receiving. If an individual does not forgive then they might be the ones to break. This quote is somewhat ironic to me because the whole them of the movie is to kill the villain Dorothy. You would think this quote should inspire the main character Amy Gumm to try to forgive Dorothy.

 

 

Living off the Path

Most people live life on the path we set for them, too afraid to explore any other. But once in awhile, people like you come along who knock down all the obstacles we put in your way.

                                                     Harry Mitchell from The Adjustment Bureau

 

I think to understand this quote completely you must see “The Adjustment Bureau,” but I think the general message of the quote is comprehensible. Many people do not pursue adventure or take risks. They tend to stay in their comfort zone and are quite content with routines. However, David Norris, the main character of this movie, decided to step away from the path that was set before him. He decided to live life the way he wanted to, even if it put him in danger.

Have Heart

If you don't have heart, you have nothing.

Tin Man from "Tin Man"

 

The experiences of a lifetime can cause a person's heart to become hardened or numb, but if a person loses their heart completely then they lose themselves. And if we lose love, even the smallest measure of it, then we really have nothing. A person can have all the riches, fame and power in the world but if they don't have someone to share it with, then they don't have anything. The Tin Man in this television series had lost everything he loved but because of his family's love he was able to help those who needed him.