Roland > Roland's Quotes

“Our perceptions determine, to an incredibly large degree, what we are and are not capable of. In many ways, they determine reality itself. When we believe in the obstacle more than in the goal, which will inevitably triumph?”
― Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

“Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death—ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible to life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return. One”
― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

“If the concept of God has any validity or any use, it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. If God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him.”
― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

“[Prisoners of war had] definitely more privileges. They could go anywhere in town they wanted; we could only go in the black section. And of course, as I said, on the train, they could ride in the back of the train or
anywhere on the train they wanted, but we had to get in the car right behind the coal car or the baggage car, whichever one was there. And buses, they sat in front and we sat in the back.”
― Melton A. McLaurin, The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines

“Whoever debases others is debasing himself. That”
― James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

“A man who does't want opinions should keep his own mouth shut.”
― Joe Abercrombie, Before They Are Hanged

“A great leader must share the hardships of his followers, of his soldiers, of his subjects. That is how he wins their respect. Great leaders do not complain. Not ever.”
― Joe Abercrombie

“So finally Jimmy stopped me and said to me, he says, Sarge, they wouldn't sell us any Coke. And I said, what do you mean they wouldn't sell you any Coke? He said no, there was a sign on the door and the sign said no Indians, Mexicans, niggers, or dogs allowed. And if you seen the hurt in the boy's eyes, and he just shook his head and never said anything and just walked on. The other two men never said anything to me. They just walked past with their heads down. And I remember when, well because Jimmy was killed on Iwo Jima.”
― Melton A. McLaurin, The Marines of Montford Point: America's First Black Marines

“Senlin marveled at how adept the human race was at injecting a sense of routine into peculiar environments; it seemed a certainty that once people were added, the mundane was sure to follow.”
― Josiah Bancroft, Arm of the Sphinx

“It is easy to forget how much you have, when your eyes are always fixed on what you have not. “Something”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Heroes

“Patience is as fearsome a weapon as rage. More so, in fact, ’cause fewer men have it.”
― Joe Abercrombie, The Heroes

“The problem with friends and family is that they know us as we are. They are invested in maintaining us as we are.”
― Steven Pressfield, Do the Work

“To be brave among friends was nothing. To have the world against you and pick your path regardless–there is courage.”
― Joe Abercrombie, Red Country

“An amateur is defensive. The professional finds learning (and even, occasionally, being shown up) to be enjoyable; they like being challenged and humbled, and engage in education as an ongoing and endless process.”
― Ryan Holiday, Ego Is the Enemy

“I don't talk things, sir,' said Faber. 'I talk the meaning of things. I sit here and know I'm alive.”
― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451