Women Born In The 1950s

"I do yoga and meditation. I'm a vegetarian and I've given up alcohol."

"[About Madonna] I disagree. Nor do I agree with the association of Madonna's name with the title of her LP Like a Virgin."

"Lo dico per la prima volta: il problema fu la marijuana. Romina fumava quella robaccia anche quattro volte al giorno. E lo faceva da anni, ancor prima della scomparsa di Ylenia. Era un'altra donna. Fumava ed era allegra. Finito l'effetto, si intristiva e piangeva. Era irriconoscibile. Non esprimeva più quell'attaccamento alle cose, la passione per la vita, per quello che avevamo vissuto e costruito quegli anni. Fu l'inizio della fine."

"I could have had a career in cinema. It was difficult to reinvent myself as a singer. I have a weak voice. I can swing, dance, I'm a show woman, but I had to overcome my extreme shyness. My legs trembled in front of 80,000 people."

"It's better to be the one who leaves than the one who is left."

"My hair has always been my strong point, everyone wondered who took care of it: instead, I trimmed it myself with scissors, on new moon nights, so that it would grow back stronger and faster."

"I discovered Buddhism during my mother's illness, when I moved to the United States to care for her. It's hard to see a parent die: Buddhism was my reward, all my questions were answered. I eradicated my anger, I realized that it is a poison that I must no longer swallow. Before, I used to go to ashrams but I didn't feel like I belonged anywhere. I didn't renounce anything, Buddhism doesn't ask you to do that: when I was little and preparing for my Confirmation, I thought about becoming a nun."

"Sadly for all of us, our culture does little to encourage boys to become great men. Television depicts men as stupid, or as sex addicts, and almost always intellectually and emotionally shallow. Men don't seem to care about these depictions, merely laughing them off. But I care about them, because our sons need good role models and given the amount of time boys spend with electronic media they need good role models on television. And of course, there is a bigger cultural fallout from the depreciation of masculinity and fatherhood, which is lower marriage rates, higher divorce rates, and the reality that many boys grow up in fatherless homes.This is a national tragedy, because boys need healthy encouragement from their fathers more than they need it from anyone else. In a boy's eyes, his father's words are sacred. They hold enormous power. His words can crush a boy or piece him back together after a fall. If a father is not there at all, there is a huge void in a boy's life — and as the depressing statistics remind us, boys who grow up without fathers are at a dramatically greater risk of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and ending up in prison.Encouragement from a father changes a boy's life. His words can ignite furious passion in a boy that will help him achieve any goal he sets out to accomplish. To a son, a dad's words are the final truth. If they are positive, a boy feels that he cannot be beaten; if they are negative, however, a son feels that he could never win. If you are a son reading this, you know exactly what I mean."

"Every boy needs schooling in virtues in order to become a great man. And any parent can school him because at the heart of virtue is masculine intuition. Parents don't have to construct the virtues and then pour then into the heart of their son. The virtues are there, but in small fragments that must be cleaned, shaped, and polished.The great burden for parents is finding time. Haste is the enemy of virtue, because it gives us no time to discuss, think, wonder, or pray; it forces us to push our boys to perform when we should be working with them. Give time back to your son. Give him time to dream. Encourage him to question and to think. Boys must have time to think upon virtues before they embrace them. Otherwise, virtues become nothing more than a disposable outer layer of clothing. A man can put them on or off, depending on his mood. But real virtues are not so disposable — they become part of the boy."

"At the top of most lists of good behavior is honesty. Boys are keenly attuned to honesty in those around them. And they feel it immediately when people around them sway from it. If a boy has a strong conscience, his eyebrows, nostrils, hairline, and mouth will all betray him if he tries to lie, because he will know he is breaking the code of conduct. Boys consider honesty a masculine quality, so to betray it is to be less of a man. Heroes, in a boy's eyes, are deserving of honor because they stand for what is right and just, and what is right and just is honesty.Living honestly feels better to boys than living with deception, even if that deception is meant to get them what they want. Boys like feeling strong and courageous, and telling the truth demands strength and honesty. Lying feels grungy. Lying makes boys fearful because they know it is a weakness. The liar is someone who is afraid of the truth.This is why boys are so open to being trained to tell the truth. They know that if you teach them to be truth tellers, you're teaching them to be strong. They know good boys, internally strong boys, tell the truth; wishy-washy boys lie. No one needs to tell them this; they know it. So in teaching honesty you have a ready audience. Don't blow it by encouraging your son to tell white lies — even if they're well intentioned. Young boys think in black-and-white terms. A statement is either true or it is false. The younger the boy, the less gray he feels in his thinking. When a parent coaxes him to tell "white lies" he is confused. The term is an oxymoron. In order to accommodate his parents' wishes, he puts lies into the pool of acceptable speech. Beginning such ambiguous training so early on in life leads boys down a slippery path."

"Marquis de Sade: Justine"

"Boys will search for virtue, just as they will search for truth and self-worth, because in the heart of a developing boy is the desire to know the truth, to know what is good, and to know that he has some reason to do the right thing. This is why boys are famous for setting out rules, standards of conduct for themselves. They derive their moral code from those they admire (usually their parents). Once a boy sets out his rules, he holds them as the best and highest way a boy (himself) should behave. If a boy succeeds in following his code of conduct, he's able to respect himself, and he believes others will respect him as well. Respect and honor are important to boys (and men)."

"Those who eliminate animal products from their diet no longer get sick. And then meat makes you go bald."

"My recurring dream, for many years now, is of a giant wave about to crash onto a beach where I am with a group of friends. I have premonitory dreams."

"The research we are aiming for seeks to improve cooperation between business and the community by building ‘knowledge webs’, a goal that is in phase with Europe’s target of evolving from an ‘information society’ to a ‘knowledge society’."

"If we can harness God given natural resources such as water, wind, steam turbines, fossil fuel, biomass, geothermal and solar energy source, among others, the cost of production of energy in the country would drop drastically."

"It is important for the country to focus on sustainability, which includes renewable energy that gives a sustainable source of power supply."

"Today, the issue of food insecurity worldwide is at a critical stage. All of us cannot deny that it is a tragedy of today that one billion people go to bed hungry everyday with a no better tomorrow."

"Q: How is the Nigerian technical sector working to enact laws to prioritize the education of the underprivileged children? A: Teachers are encouraged to put in their best. These would ultimately provide a cheaper and qualitative education. Notwithstanding, we would look into ways to ensure that children who are very bright but underprivileged go to school."

"Food insecurity is a major concern to majority of the developing world."

"Talking about biogas, I think Nigeria is behind, because presently in Indian, they have so perfected it that one can buy plastic biogas generators at home and cook with it, power the house."

"Nigeria must increase food production through the development of relevant machinery and equipment to process and produce more food."

"Q:: Education in Nigeria today is fast dropping in standards. How else can we harness the potential of the skilled child in Nigeria today? A: We can organize programs to discover them as the Project Skill Competition organized here today. Our sole aim should be on how to encourage these children to discover their environment and proffer solution."

"That is to say that every day, about 60 million Nigerians go to bed hungry, this should challenge us as well as touch us deeply."

"I have served the people well. I gave my all and I am proud to say that my integrity remains intact and I have never wanted to lose sight of the people I have sworn to serve with full fidelity and courage."

"Yung pambabatikos nga na tuwing may national event, inaakusahan kaming itinatago namin ang mga bata. Pero kapag ginagawa naman namin ito na walang national event, hindi kami kinikibo. Ibig sabihin ko, ang akin na lang pagtingin, makikinig ako kung totoong meron kaming maling ginawa aking wawastuhin. ‘Yung mga kritikong para maging nega lamang, pinapasa-Diyos ko na lang ‘yun.” (We are criticized every time there is a national event, we are being accused of hiding the street children. But when we do this even if there is no national event, we are not noticed. In my point of view, I would listen [to the criticisms] and if we really do have shortcomings, I would correct them. The critics who just spread negativity, I just leave [their fate] up to the Lord.)"

"I wish that the voice of reform will be heard in its proper context and not be drowned in malice."

"She had prayed and made offerings to Mary, who had given birth to Jesus; to Saint Anne, Mary's mother, who, having been barren for twenty years, had been told by an angel that she would give birth to a daughter; to Saint Cunegonda who, despite having taken a vow of chastity with her husband, Emperor Henry, prepared miraculous potions to help women conceive. (chap. 19)"

"Her husband had slipped a gold ring set with a fine ruby onto her finger, and her mother-in-law had given her a birthing bag which, in her time, she herself had tied to her thigh for the duration of her pregnancy. “It contains a parchment recounting the birth of Margaret of Antioch. It will protect you from a brutal death, as it protected me.” Swallowed by a dragon, Margaret of Antioch had escaped from the beast's belly by piercing its spine with her cross. My son, Hades had thought, will not have to resort to violence to come into the world. When the time is right, I will open myself wide and he will slide out without pain. He will be born with rosy skin and a healthy complexion. (chap. 19)"

"Unclassifiable, defying any definition, they (the beguines) rejected both marriage and the cloister. They prayed, worked, studied, moved around the city without restrictions, travelled and received friends, owned property, and could pass it on to their sisters. Independent and free. A freedom that no woman had ever enjoyed before, nor would enjoy for centuries to come. Not all of them were aware of this. But some fought to preserve that freedom. (introduction)"

"There are many ways to live one's faith outside the Church. Not all beguines are fortunate enough – or have the opportunity – to be welcomed into large institutions such as the one in Paris. Many live in large groups in small houses in the city centre and work. Others prefer to live alone. Some, the so-called wandering beguines, beg and preach in the streets. (chapter 10)"

"Politics is life is art is life is politics. It's all interwoven, like a whāriki, like a mat."

"The Treaty will always be the basis of my work. The issues I'm always discussing are economic, social and environmental... back into the basis of justice in our country, the covenant of the country, the korowai of the country."

"The issues that I’m always discussing are economic, social and environmental. And land rights tie back into the basis of justice in our country, the covenant of the country, the korowai of the country. So my imagery is cultural and traditional but it is also contemporary and futuristic."

"My work is centred around the Treaty of Waitangi. It’s to do with rangatiratanga, our atua, our taonga, and rights, living rights, arts and cultural rights."

"Activism to bring political or social change is not far from my mind when I paint. I like to discuss and, if necessary, confront matters that I consider need discussion or redress. I do not and cannot separate my painting from my moral and ethical motives. They are one and the same. They (ideas, values) feed into each other when I work, giving me the platform to express being a Māori woman in New Zealand."

"It's the very idea that both are staging it in “the season of love.”"

"Beyond music, one of the greatest privileges of my journey has been the opportunity to share the Word of God. My faith has guided me throughout my career, and being able to inspire and uplift others — not just through music, but through the message of God’s love — is something I hold close to my heart."

"Valentine's Day is not only for lovers or romantic love. We will also share songs with different perspectives on love and life."

"I am grateful for every stage, every song, and every chance to make a difference. As long as I have the voice and the platform, I will continue doing what I love — honoring my craft, helping others grow, and giving glory to God."

"The next best thing I’m most thankful for is finding my Savior Jesus Christ. It has given me the love to serve and influence others to know Him. There’s so much need in mentoring young artists; and helping those who need Biblical counseling by sharing the Word of God."

"I've always wanted an inspiration in my life. Before, when I didn't have a boyfriend, I couldn't sing. That's how it used to be. Now there's nothing like that. I have to give glory to the Lord for the talents He has given me."

"I sing it to the Lord! Why can't I relate, I can relate to that easily. I can only think of my exes, the good ones."

"The joy of the Lord is my strength. I told you, read the Bible. The word of the Lord is alive and active. It's sharper than the double-edged sword. 'The promises of the Lord, if we say it, it goes to our spirit, and moves. When I'm feeling tired, I just say that. Maybe if I don't have a relationship with our Lord, I've given up. I'm lazy." (Maybe if I didn't have a relationship with our Lord, I would have given up. I'd be lazy.)"

"I have vowed to make Him first in my life."

"Through that, one can find true peace, wisdom, and strength. May we finally have the leaders we have always wanted -- leaders who are God-fearing and God-loving, and with genuine hearts to serve, putting the country's interest first. May we always remember that our greatest strength together as Filipinos [as a nation] is our resilience, faith, and love for one another."

"I'm not looking for (someone special). If the Lord gives something, it's up to him. I'm not looking for that."

"By the grace of God, I have been given the many opportunities to remain active in the industry for over 45 years."

"I wanted to create a space that could serve as a home for our local performers, a theater, and live performances where artists could freely showcase their talents without the challenges of booking a hotel."

"One of the boldest and most meaningful milestones in my career (and) it was a decision that required my lifetime savings — earnings from my tours — but more than just a financial investment, it was an investment in the future of Filipino artists and live entertainment."