Quotes and Non-Conformity

"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth."

-John F. Kennedy

"If you see in any given situation only what everybody else can see, you can be said to be so much a representative of your culture that you are a victim of it."

-S. I. Hayakawa

I love quotes. I suppose my affinity for them is rooted in the harsh reality that while I can often express myself somewhat effectively with the written word, I get a bit tongue tied when attempting to convey an idea verbally. My mind is often several steps ahead of my mouth, and synchronicity between the two is rarely achieved.

Years ago, when I was ordering my (our) wedding invitations, I also ordered a large supply of note cards that are blank, save the "Mr. and Mrs. ......" I have used them occasionally over the past 12 years, but have hardly put a dent in the box. During my recent organization rampage (which is still in high gear, hence the lack of blog posts), I decided that I would write a note of encouragement or quote each school day for my kids and tuck them in their backpacks. It's been a big hit so far. My son told me it's like having a little piece of me with him while he's at school. (I'm a little ve-clemped, talk amongst yourselves......................). Okay, I'm better now.

I have found many great quotes (including the two above) from a book that I received years ago, "The Right Moment" by William E. Hyche. As an amusing (or not) aside, the book is autographed by the author with a note that says "Kathy - this book is a gift from Dad and Maureen". Wow. That's profound! (BTW - Maureen is not her real name. She is my father's ex live-in girlfriend who hated my husband and I with a white-hot passion because we are Christians and she is a left wing feminist who believes that "our kind" are trying to keep women barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. I wonder what she thinks of Sarah Palin...) Not that I'm against the feminist movement as a whole. I am indebted many brave women who, at great personal cost, pushed through the 19th amendment and fought for many of the freedoms I enjoy today. However, I take great issue with NOW because of their stance on abortion. How is it that a woman's right to choose takes greater priority over an unborn child's right to live? But as usual, I digress.

Where was I? Oh yes -- quotes! I stumbled across this one yesterday. I have to say that this definitely makes it into my top ten list of all time favorites:

What you really have to do, if you want to be creative, is to unlearn all the teasing and censoring that you've experienced throughout your life. If you are truly a creative person, you know that feeling insecure and lonely is par for the course. You can't have it both ways: You can't be creative and conform, too. You have to recognize that what makes you different also makes you creative.

- Arno Penzias, 1978 Nobel Prize winner for physics

Are you getting the vibe that I'm a bit of a non-conformist? While I believe that label would be an accurate one, I would qualify it by stating that I'm not a non-conformist for the sake of being a non-conformist. If you think about it, that's a little ridiculous. It makes me think of an angst filled teenager bent on being unique and different who dresses exactly like all his/her equally angst filled friends.

So now I'm looking for some reader participation. Mostly because I have yet to catch up on my blog reading and I miss hearing from you guys. Do you have a favorite quote?

In closing, I'll give you my all time favorite: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (New King James Version)9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.