My mother had a horrific life. At fourteen, she was in the Nazi concentration camps. Her sense about life now is, every day above ground is a good day.
Interpretation
Every day is valuable and can be seen positively, especially after experiencing hardship.
This quote emphasizes the resilience and optimistic perspective of Gene Simmons' mother, who despite experiencing unimaginable trauma during her youth, has learned to appreciate life itself. It illustrates that even after enduring severe suffering, one can find joy and gratitude in simply being alive, reflecting a profound understanding of life's value.
In practice
In a speech about perseverance, one might quote Gene Simmons to remind the audience of the value of each day.
It's in the history books, the Holocaust. It's just a phrase. And the truth is it happened yesterday. It happened to my mother. I never met my grandfathers or my grandmothers. They were all wiped up in the gas chambers of Nazi Germany.
It's not houses I love, it's the life I live in them.
Here lies interred in the eternity of the past, from whence there is no resurrection for the days - whatever there may be for the dust - the thirty-third year of an ill-spent life, which, after a lingering disease of many months sank into a lethargy, and expired, January 22d, 1821, A.D. leaving a successor inconsolable for the very loss which occasioned its existence.
You're nobody 'til somebody kills you.
What will I be doing in twenty years' time? I'll be dead, darling! Are you crazy?
Tell them I've had a wonderful life.
Even when you look for it, you're never prepared for it.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.