Some of my best life lessons came from Japanese manga and anime. During the worst of my back injury, I inhaled them. There’s not much to do when you can’t sit. Most avenues of time spending are cut off–no dining out, no going to the movies. So you learn to distract yourself with what remains.
For me, it was manga and anime. Some of the phrases forever imprinted on me. They became my rallying calls. Even now, I still invoke them.
“Live the life you want.”
“Hold on to your dreams, tomorrow knows where and when.”
“You are not alone.”
Powerful moments in beautiful stories that I treasured. Life lesson imparted not through personal experience, but by immersing myself in their story world.
Any great story quotes you absorbed into your life?
22 comments
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October 15, 2012 at 7:28 am
Samir
Well… there are two quotes that I heard in my teens and have lived by – and said aloud on occasion, but they were from a movie. The irony is that is was a Steven Segal action movie and both quotes are from it! Go figure…!?
Here they are:
1. Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups.
2. Chance favors the prepared mind.
October 15, 2012 at 8:35 am
Kourtney Heintz
Great quotes! Sometimes action movies have those one liners that are so profound you do a double take.
October 15, 2012 at 9:47 am
philosophermouseofthehedge
Manga and anime are very cool. Quite complex if the reader takes time to appreciate them. Cool quotes
October 15, 2012 at 9:48 am
Kourtney Heintz
It was the perfect reading materials while on pain medication. Not so many words that I got lost and enough pictures to guide me along.
October 15, 2012 at 10:58 am
Carrie Rubin
Of course, I can’t think of any phrases now, but I’m sure I will at 3 am tonight.
October 15, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Kourtney Heintz
I look forward to your 3 am comment. ;P
October 15, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Elliot
I’m not one for absorbing quotes, but I like the source of the lesson. They do some great and under appreciated works because there seems to be this impression that it is for teen geeks. I also like a lot of the Studio Ghibli works, which have some great stories, and a style of animation that I like.
October 15, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Kourtney Heintz
I have tons of friends in their 20s and 30s who love manga and anime. The artistry and plotting are so much more than a picture book for teens.
October 15, 2012 at 3:53 pm
jmmcdowell
Hmm, this is why I’d be terrible with interviews. Answering unexpected questions on the fly is not my strong suit. May the next commenter be more articulate!
October 15, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Kourtney Heintz
LOL. These just happened to stick in my mind over the years. One of my favs is: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
October 15, 2012 at 6:41 pm
berry
Serenity peace relax
October 15, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Kourtney Heintz
A good mantra.
October 15, 2012 at 9:07 pm
August McLaughlin
“Climb every mountain.”
October 15, 2012 at 11:25 pm
Kourtney Heintz
I like that one!
October 16, 2012 at 7:04 am
zelmare
I’ve a few favourite quotes, but I find ‘living’ them to be quite difficult…
October 16, 2012 at 10:07 am
Kourtney Heintz
I don’t know if I live them so much as I go to them when facing a difficult time or decision. I think of them more as a battle cry.
October 16, 2012 at 10:43 pm
chiquitar
Did you watch any movies? Miyazaki’s version of Howl’s Moving Castle, a WONDERFUL book by Diana Wynne Jones, is full of great quotes and great stories. I love all the Studio Ghibli stuff.
Nice to meetcha, by the way!
October 17, 2012 at 12:21 am
Kourtney Heintz
Some, though I loved the anime series the best. Inuyasha, Fruits Basket, Wallflower were my favorites. Pleasure to meet you too!
October 17, 2012 at 12:07 am
EllaDee
I thought I couldnât think of any but I went to ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI’s_100_Years…100_Movie_Quotes it might and realised half my vocab is movie quotesâŚ
Two of my favourites “There’s no place like home.” & “I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I sadly had to explain to the G.O. who Toto was
October 17, 2012 at 12:22 am
Kourtney Heintz
LOL–that is an awesome realization. Loved The Wizard of Oz–great quotes!
December 11, 2012 at 7:27 pm
berry
You can never go home again. So true.
You need to feel the bad to appreciate the good.
Absence is to love
As wind is to fire
It extinguishes the small and kindles the great.
December 11, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Kourtney Heintz
Oh I love that last one about love. It is so true!