Shell S.

“We are each other's hope... If there is no enemy within, the enemy without can do us no harm. And the enemy within is indifference. It is apathy. It is convictions without courage and ideals without action. For we know that where there is unity, there is strength. We know, as the African proverb says, that sticks in a bundle can't be broken.”
― Cory Booker, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good

“It's a modern twist on the French poet Anatole France's quip 'The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.' In [i]Citizens United[/i], it is more like 'The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the government from prohibiting rich and poor alike from expending billions of dollars in politics.”
― Leah Litman, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes

“Unlike being nice, kindness is not about what you're portraying, but what you're doing...applying actual love to make the world a better place. Sure, you may smile nicely at the old woman on the bus, but kindness is what makes you give up your seat for her.... Niceness is a mask many folks can wear because that is simply a part of being in a society. ... The pretend politeness of niceness can get in the way of tactful honesty and constructive critique that can be essential to advancing people and projects to a higher plane. As I've gotten older, I've learned that being 'nice' about something can save you conflict, but often, being real about it can save you time. You just gotta learn when, where, and how to apply your realness. Nonetheless kindness always has a place in the game, even if it's just being kind to yourself. ... All you can do is try your best to be yourself and make a practice of being kind.”
― Amanda Seales, Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use

“Thanks for letting me be weird...Sorry I'm so messed up about this.'
'You don't have to be sorry; you can be weird for as long as you want...I do it all the time.'
'Yeah, but you're, like, fun-weird. I'm being...sad-weird.'
'It's not always a fun-weird world.”
― Jessica Conwell, Ghost Flower