Carol Vorvain > Carol's Quotes

“I struggle with the art of politely saying no, the same as others are struggling to understand the meaning of no. No is a complicated word. Truly. Spell it backwards and you’re on.”
― Carol Vorvain, OMSARUZ: Humorous tales from Oman, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan

“U.K. used to be safe. But then, Roxanne got old, Sting ditched her and no more Police.”
― Carol Vorvain, OMSARUZ: Humorous tales from Oman, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
― Albert Camus

“Listen and learn from others' criticism.It will tell you as much about you as it will about them.”
― Carol Vorvain, When Dreams are Calling

“Stay put and you will remain as such. Jump in and you might get wet. Dive and you might find true happiness.”
― Carol Vorvain, When Dreams are Calling

“Accept you are a work in progress, that there are things which you cannot change, others which take time to change and some which will be a shame to change.”
― Carol Vorvain, When Dreams are Calling

“Așteptarea ne dă iluzia că facem ceva așteptând, când, de fapt, nu facem altceva decât să murim suportabil, puțin câte puțin…”
― Octavian Paler

“The narrow coastal road has many twists and turns, each one revealing scenery of incredible beauty. On one side, the mountains rise proud and steep challenging the sky, on the other, the tropical lagoon sparkles like a zillion twinkling stars. I dream of being carried away on the round, soft shoulders of gorgeous mermaids into the deep blue ocean waters.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“Yes, I found happiness. And no, it didn’t take years of struggles, hours of meditation or tons of self-help books and yoga lessons. It just happened. Here, it follows me wherever I go. During the day, it joins me, like a willing ally, through the usual cycle of grasping and craving, and, at night, it lets me fall asleep, my mind quiet, no rambling thoughts filling it.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“In my eyes, all the pearls are beautiful, things born out of suffering and hard work, each one a baby of those amazing mollusks. Through them, the mother-of-pearl continues to live and travel not just the ocean, but different continents. Some will be treasured and taken care of. Others will be forgotten in some dark drawer. Their destiny will be as unique as they are.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“That’s what I like about Polynesians. They wear their hearts on their sleeve knowing that, for adults, there are better games to play than hiding their emotions from each other”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“I fall asleep thinking there is no better elixir than travel. Old things always bored me, boredom always scared me, while travel—travel is a carnival of wild affairs.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“Love is like a pair of polarized sunglasses, making every color seem more vivid, richer, warmer. Without it we stare at the world dull-eyed and flinch at the thought it might remain the same forever.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“For Tahitians there is nothing more desirable than love, being loved and making love. They are in love with the idea of love even more than they are with a real person.
Love is free, passion unrestrained and wild, and all love stories, no matter how long they last, one day, a year or forever, are equally beautiful.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not?: The island where happiness starts with a question

“Tahitians don’t chase happiness. Happiness comes naturally to them. You only need to see them in the water, with a beer in their hand, splashing each other or waving to every stranger they see on the road, to know this. Happiness is in the air: in every hibiscus flower that opens early in the morning, in the sweet aroma of the pineapple plantations, in the smile of the people lolling around idly, resting slothfully in the warm breeze that ruffles the surface of the lagoon.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not? The island where happiness starts with a question

“Smile at a friend, at a stranger, at an enemy, at life’s absurdities and the universe will smile back at you.”
― Carol Vorvain, Why Not? The island where happiness starts with a question

“Whenever we think we have the answer, God asks another question.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“You know what each house should have? A Duty Free space. Like at the airports. Then I might consider moving in with a woman.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“They say distance makes old friendships fade away. They say with time and distance lovers forget one another. I find it quite the opposite. Distance, time, they all enhance the aroma of every moment two close souls once spent together, they magnify every little shared pleasure.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“Don’t accept a life that has been molded for you by others because eventually you’ll succumb to its falseness.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“Life doesn’t happen to me because I don’t let it happen. I’m afraid it won’t happen the only way I want it to happen: my way.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“I’m so bedeviled by my own ambitions that it never occurred to me that a clouded mind is a recipe for disaster or, that outside my office, there is an entire world full of colors and possibilities. To me, there is only one thing that matters: I have to reach a point where I can finally boast to myself and the whole world that I made it.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“What’s success? Having lots of money? No, this is part of the practicalities of life. It is not success. Success is having two daughters who grow into fine ladies, two boys who grow into fine gentlemen. Success is waking up next to the loved one dumbstruck at your luck of meeting them.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“Next to her he felt both young and old. Old in his habits and fears, young in his curiosity and desires. And he wanted so badly to feel young. He never felt young, not even when the calendar said he was. He never had a one night stand, never went partying all night, never bought a one-way ticket to an island in the middle of the Pacific with no other plans than lazing around and drinking beer, and the list could on. Was he ever in his twenties? Or did he jump right into his mid-forties, a time of introspection and responsibilities? Now, not only was he obsessed by what he still didn’t have and concerned for what the future may bring, he also felt he had less time to accomplish everything he ever wanted. And it had to be everything. His forties were as angst-ridden as his twenties, if not even more.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“But what attracted me to weeds was not their beauty, but their resilience. I mean, despite being so widely despised, so unloved, killed with every chance we get, they are so pervasive, so seemingly invincible.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“And what if life, rather than being a glamorous stage filled with love and sunshine, was nothing more than a lesson in resilience? Or a universal “Lost and Found”? Lost enthusiasm, Found job; Lost job, Found Freedom; Lost freedom, Found love…”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“Just for the record, a nymphomaniac girlfriend might be great material for imagination, but in real life, trust me, having a nympho in your bed night after night is not as fantastic as it sounds. At worst, they are sick; at best they are exhausting, and in both cases they wear you out.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“In his humble opinion, she possessed the least appealing traits a woman can put on display: undiscriminating curiosity and nonsensical verbosity.”
― Carol Vorvain, A fool in Istanbul - Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“Do you know what we Turks think is the best Turkish delight? The Turkish woman. She is the best Turkish delight.”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic

“However, he couldn’t stand the fortune cookies. His always read, “The fortune you seek is no fortune.” Or “Love your neighbor, it keeps the community together.” Or “Keep the dreams alive. Don’t wake up”
― Carol Vorvain, A Fool in Istanbul: Adventures of a self denying workaholic