A Fool in Istanbul Quotes

“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

“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

“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

“Whenever we think we have the answer, God asks another question.”
― 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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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