Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 423

"Adults always say ‘you’re too young to...

"Adults always say ‘you’re too young to understand.’ Well, if they don’t tell us, how do they know we don’t understand?"

"If you were to give one piece of advice to a large group of...

"If you were to give one piece of advice to a large group of people, what would it be?"
"Well, if you’d asked me a week ago, I’d say: ‘pay it forward.’ Now I’d say ‘be careful.’"

"I used to be 260 lbs.""What triggered the change?""I think it...

"I used to be 260 lbs."
"What triggered the change?"
"I think it just came from me being a competitive guy. My brother used to tease me and call me ‘fat boy.’ So I was like, ‘Fuck you. I’m not fat. I’m a skinny guy in a fat body.’"

"I was always made to feel like I’d be successful because...

"I was always made to feel like I’d be successful because I always did my homework. I wish I’d spent more time putting energy into things that came from myself."

"I’m trying to find money for African start-ups. But...

"I’m trying to find money for African start-ups. But I’m much too African for this cold weather."
"What sort of start-ups?"
"Most of them combine agriculture and mobile technology."
"How do those two things go together?"
"Africa is is an interesting case because it skipped the PC age and went straight to mobile. The economy is still largely based on agriculture, and farmers are beginning to use mobile technology to keep track of weather updates, market prices, and improved farming techniques."

"Who do you love most in this world?""God.""When did you find it...

"Who do you love most in this world?"
"God."
"When did you find it most difficult to love God?"
"Childhood."
"Why during childhood?"
"Because I always wondered why things happened to me."
"How long did you wonder why?"
"Until I found God, then I knew why."
"Why?"
"Because people aren’t bad, they’re sick. And sick people do bad things."

I asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. He screamed:...

I asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. 
He screamed: “A benny!” 
"What’s a benny?" I asked.

"That’s his name," said his mom.

She was collecting rocks.

She was collecting rocks.

"Do you remember the happiest moment of your life?""Impossible...

"Do you remember the happiest moment of your life?"
"Impossible to pick one moment."
"Do you remember the saddest moment of your life?"
"Impossible to pick one moment."
"Do you remember the time you felt most afraid?"
"When my ex-girlfriend’s brother tried to kill me."

"I’m a feminist. So if a woman and I are going for the...

"I’m a feminist. So if a woman and I are going for the last empty seat on the subway, I’m not holding back."