All Quotes

"One of the things the film is encouraging people to do is just, I don’t know, find humanity in people, find the goodness in people with all these characters. I think it’s hard to do that, but by the end of it...I came out of it with a lot more empathy, and hopefully audiences do too."

"I had never been in love. I had never been through a breakup that intense. It was all foreign territory for me."

"Nowadays it’s hard to ignore how much people change looks and fashion, and all of that has blended into actors and the entertainment industry. Growing up in that, and actively being a part of that, is a little bit confusing sometimes because it’s like, ‘Wait, what? Are we all supposed to look like this? Is this what everyone wants us to look like?’ I don’t want to do that."

"Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her."

"When things were hard, when there would be certain pressures, or I’d be overwhelmed, I felt like I couldn’t talk about it because it was such an amazing thing that was happening. Sometimes you don’t feel like you can have any complaints or struggles."

"She is someone in a lot of pain. To see her go on this journey and then even more painful circumstances, but still choose to fight the good fight and be a team player, and also just continue on for herself as well — that’s really inspiring."

"I can't give you anything but love, baby, That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby."

"Grab your coat, and get your hat, Leave your worry on the doorstep, Just direct your feet To the sunny side of the street. Can't you hear a pitter-pat? And that happy tune is your step. Life can be so sweet On the sunny side of the street."

"A fine romance, with no kisses. A fine romance, my friend, this is. We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes, But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes."

"You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean. At least they flap their fins to express emotion."

"Will you remember the famous men Who had to fall to rise again? So take a deep breath; Pick yourself up; Dust yourself off; Start all over again."

"The minute you walked in the joint I could see you were a man of distinction, A real big spender."

"Hey, big spender! Spend a little time with me."

"Wala akong alam sa bazaar pero mahilig ako magbenta-benta. Yun nga yung reason kung bakit ako sumali ng PBB para meron akong pangpuhunan sa business (laughs). Kasi gusto ko talaga magnegosyo. Sabi ko sasali ako sa PBB para just in case na sinuwerte at nakuha ko yung premyo, meron akong pangnegosyo. (I don't know anything about the bazaar, but I love selling. That's the reason why I joined PBB so that I could have an investment in the business (laughs). Because I really want to do business. I said I would join PBB, so that just in case I get lucky and get the prize, I would have a business."

"I took the challenge precisely because I thought this is something I can’t stand to do. I am the type of person who can’t stay put inside the house. I am always out. That’s why when Big Brother asked me what I do in this house that I don’t do outside, I said stay inside the house! I really don’t, in the real world. I am proud of myself that I got to do this 24/7 for 100 days. I can’t believe I lasted this long without my cell phone. But I had the mindset to finish the task and succeed in the PBB challenge. It is really a fulfillment I am proud of."

"I learned to never quit, to never give up. When you’re tired, just rest. You can’t afford to quit."

"A centipede was happy – quite! Until a toad in fun Said, "Pray, which leg moves after which?" This raised her doubts to such a pitch, She fell exhausted in the ditch Not knowing how to run."

"it is in troubled times, more than in any other, that the world desperately needs artists, our unique vision—ability to ‘see’–and our creativity. (2023)"

"(What do you write with?) Trepidation sometimes, courage at others, and a nagging curiosity mostly. (2020)"

"Poetry is a kind of nonfiction, through which awe—fear and wonder—can, oddly, be grounded and grounding. (2020)"

"(To Amnon, when he grabbed her and said, “Come, join me”) No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 13 And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you."

"I don’t write about my life, but my experience of life certainly influences how I imagine characters act and react. As a person who for a long time existed on the edges of the cultural world here in Canada, identity issues were bound to play a part in my art and writing. But I had made the decision from the start not to position myself at the edge, but to imagine that I was at the centre and to write from there, asking no permissions in the story. The act of writing in that way was, if you will, a kind of pleading—here I am, just like you, let me tell my story. But the story between the covers of the book was itself clean. It was my political act. I did it again and again, and if anything has changed, it is that it is now ingrained in my practice. It is no longer a conscious political act. Perhaps it is a habit, or the habit of insistence on being where I say I am—in the centre. I recognize that this may be purely subjective. Let’s argue that it’s an act. But it is my survival act. This positioning of my characters and their stories has, I now realize, come to be assumed of how I will write. (2020)"

"(What is the responsibility of the writer?) To find the right word. The only word that will work. The right image. To constantly educate ourselves, put ourselves in unfamiliar places, walk in others’ shoes. To ask questions, the same ones and news ones, but again and again. (2017)"

"(What book would you send to the leader of a government that imprisons writers? ) Beloved by Toni Morrison, Coetzee’s Barbarian, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and Orwell’s 1984."

"Shani Mootoo scrutinizes the treacheries of language and longing as well the very acts of remembering and recording. Gentle and wise, her narratives calmly steer through the byways of some of our most hairy post-colonial meanderings-joy and pain and humour beeezily strung together and flung over shoulder."

"Shani Mootoo explores racial and religious diversity, and ambiguities of gender, to pose fundamental questions about who each of us is....A fine new talent to be welcomed and rejoiced in."

"He was oppressed and afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. [...] Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers."

"The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

"...and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!"

"I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne."

"Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace."

"In his Gospel, St. John, through long and deep contemplation, acknowledges Jesus to be the Logos of God. In his epistles he points entirely away from himself toward Christ. Finally, in the Apocalypse, in the vision of the Lamb of God, Old and New Testaments are united, and the whole drama of salvation is summed up."

"And did those feet in ancient time, Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the Countenance Divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jerusalem builded here Among these dark Satanic mills? Bring me my Bow of burning gold, Bring me my Arrows of desire, Bring me my Spear — O clouds, unfold! Bring me my Chariot of fire! I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have built Jerusalem In England's green & pleasant land."

"O Thou Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, what Thou bearest in Thy blessed hands and feet I cannot bear; take it all away. Hide me in the depths of Thy suffering love, mold me to the image of Thy divine passion."

"Just as I am — Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, Because Thy promise I believe— O Lamb of God, I come!"

"Christ is the great Burden bearer — the Lamb of God who beareth the sin of the world; but in order to enjoy the benefit of His interposition, I must distinctly and for myself take advantage of it. Conscious of my lost estate, I must seek a personal share in the common salvation."

"There under the cross is the sinner's sanctuary — there, my friend, is the place for you and me. The first smiling look we shall get from God will be when looking unto Jesus; and the first time that we shall experience the alacrity of a lightened conscience, the relief and elasticity of the great life-burden lifted off, will be when we have laid our sins on the Lamb of God."

"When to the cross I turn my eyes, And rest on Calvary, O Lamb of God, my sacrifice, I must remember Thee."

"The way is long and dreary, The path is bleak and bare; Our feet are worn and weary, But we will not despair; More weary was Thy burden, More desolate Thy ways, O Lamb of God, who takest The sin of the world away, Have mercy upon us."

"How divinely full of glory and pleasure shall that hour be when all the millions of mankind that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God shall meet together and stand around Him, with every tongue and every heart full of joy and praise! How astonishing will be the glory and the joy of that day when all the saints shall join together in one common song of gratitude and love, and of everlasting thankfulness to this Redeemer! With what unknown delight, and inexpressible satisfaction, shall all that are saved from the ruins of sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain, and rejoice in His presence!"

"After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her Am.non was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her. But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?”"

"Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”"

"Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.” So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled."

"(To his servants) Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”"

"And Absalom answered Joab, “Look, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, so that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”"

"So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled."

"Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him."

"Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him [...]. And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him."

"Then Absalom met the servants of David. Absalom rode on a mule. The mule went under the thick boughs of a great terebinth tree, and his head caught in the terebinth; so he was left hanging between heaven and earth. And the mule which was under him went on. Now a certain man saw it and told Joab, and said, “I just saw Absalom hanging in a terebinth tree!”"

"With untiring energy Allatius combined a vast erudition, which he brought to bear upon literary, historical, philosophical, and theological questions."