A Series of Quotes: Borrowed Words & Recorded Reflections

I’ve thought about starting a new series of posts dedicated to quotes that I’ve taken from literature over the last couple of years. A while back I came across a statement: When you have nothing to write about, read. And when you have nothing to read about, write.

This stuck with me. Reading and writing are powerful tools that I’ve relied on over the years to learn about myself. For me, writing fosters self-reflection and personal growth as I carefully examine my life, thoughts, and emotions. Reading, on the other hand, is something that expands my mind and sense of self; reading feeds my curiosity and desire to learn about the world in which I live. I believe that those who struggle to understand themselves and their emotions do so because they fail to understand the purpose of reading and writing. They fail to internalise the texts they read, and they fail to reflect on the statements they write. Reading opens the mind to new experiences and enriches the soul while writing challenges individuals to confront their innermost vulnerabilities.

Over the last two years, I’ve found comfort in reading and writing. As I read, I record my favourite quotes, passages, and prose into a journal. As tedious as this may sound, this practice has been profoundly rewarding. While this habit began as a method to retain parts and pieces of my favourite books (tedious as this may sound), this practice has been profoundly rewarding. These quotes—the many quotes I’ve recorded over the last two years—retain pieces of me. They retain parts of my psyche and contain fragments of my emotions experienced during the time in which I read these words for the first time. The words hold meanings, emotions, and experiences that I felt during that time. The sentences act as windows into my own past life—my interests, pains, and anxieties. At the same time, these quotes also reflect my hopes for the future. My dreams. My inspirations. These quotes remind me of the person who I was then. They encourage me to reflect on who I am now.

While I do not intend to share the innermost corners of my journal and reflections, I do wish to use this series as an opportunity to explore how these quotes inform my perspective. I hope to use this series as an opportunity to explore the meanings of these quotes and inspire you (the reader) to do the same.

*This page will be updated to include links to subsequent posts dedicated to this series.