You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave.
Quentin CrispRead
What would you be like if you were the only person in the world? If you want to be truly happy you must be that person.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True happiness comes from within and requires self-acceptance.
Quentin Crisp's quote emphasizes the idea that authentic happiness is not dependent on external validation or social interactions. Instead, it suggests that one must find contentment in being their true self, independent of others. By imagining a scenario where one is alone in the world, it encourages introspection and self-acceptance as keys to achieving genuine joy.
Themes
HappinessSelf-AcceptanceContentmentInner Peace
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about finding true happiness.
More from Quentin Crisp
All quotes →The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person. I would describe this method of searching for happiness as immature. Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.
Quentin CrispRead
The search for a life-style involves a journey to the interior. This is not altogether a pleasant experience, because you not only have to take stock of what you consider your assets but you also have to take a long look at what your friends call “the trouble with you.” Nevertheless, the journey is worth making.
Quentin CrispRead
If you describe things as better than they are, you are considered to be a romantic; if you describe things as worse than they are, you will be called a realist; and if you describe things exactly as they are, you will be thought of as a satirist.
Quentin CrispRead
The flagrantly gay Quentin Crisp dealt with homophobic bullying by refusing to bow to its onslaught. His number listed in the phone directory, he responded to derogatory remarks accompanied with a stated intent to kill him by asking, "Would you like to make an appointment?"
Quentin CrispRead
It is explained that all relationships require a little give and take. This is untrue. Any partnership demands that we give and give and give and at the last, as we flop into our graves exhausted, we are told that we didn't give enough.
Quentin CrispRead
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The pursuit of happiness, which American citizens are obliged to undertake, tends to involve them in trying to perpetuate the moods, tastes and aptitudes of youth.
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If someone asked for my recipe for happiness, step one would be finding out what you love most in the world and step two would be finding someone to pay you to do it. I consider myself very lucky indeed to be able to support myself by writing.
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It's never been an issue for me - I don't want to go on a diet, I don't want to eat a Caesar salad with no dressing, why would I do that? I ain't got time for this, just be happy and don't be stupid. If I've got a boyfriend and he loves my body then I'm not worried.
AdeleRead
We don't laugh because we're happy - we're happy because we laugh.
William JamesRead