Steps Forward Quotes

The Englishman's strong point is his vigorous insularity; that of the American his power of adaptation. Each of these attitudes has its perils. The Englishman stands firmly on his feet, but he who merely does this never advances. The American's disposition is to step forward even at the risk of a fall. ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Every attainment, every step forward in knowledge, follows from courage, from hardness against oneself, from cleanliness in relation to oneself. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Fantasies are real. They have effects on your soul, even though, as I was too young to really step forward. ~ Cornel West

Mussolini is quite humiliated because our troops have not moved a step forward. Even today they have not succeeded in advancing and have halted in front of the first French fortification which put up some resistance. ~ Galeazzo Ciano

If the characters are not wicked, the book is. We must tell stories the way God does, stories in which a sister must float her little brother on a river with nothing but a basket between him and the crocodiles. Stories in which a king is a coward, and a shepherd boy steps forward to face the giant. Stories with fiery serpents and leviathans and sermons in whirlwinds. Stories in which murderers are blinded on donkeys and become heroes. Stories with dens of lions and fiery furnaces and lone prophets laughing at kings and priests and demons. Stories with heads on platters. Stories with courage and crosses and redemption. Stories with resurrections. ~ G.K. Chesterton

The Witness is a huge step forward, and it is a necessary and important step in meditation, but it is not ultimate. When the Witness or the soul is finally undone, then the Witness dissolves into everything that is witnessed. The subject/object duality collapses and there is only pure nondual awareness, which is very simple, very obvious. ~ Ken Wilber

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself. ~ Julia Cameron

Do not expect Plato's ideal republic; be satisfied with even the smallest step forward, and consider this no small achievement. ~ Marcus Aurelius

Two steps forward three steps backwards how would u get there?_ ~ Rain

An enemy, perhaps. Ah, so simple. Liane will kill you ten men. Two steps forward, thrust - thus!" He lunged. "And souls go thrilling up like bubbles in a beaker of mead. ~ Jack Vance

Every time you feel miserable, there is present an excellent opportunity to make a big step forward. ~ Lester Levenson

As soon as something like Monty Python's 'The Life of Brian' appears with a Muhammad figure as the main lead, directed by an Arabic Theo van Gogh, the controversial late Dutch filmmaker, we will have taken an enormous step forward. ~ Ayaan Hirsi Ali

The impressionists, Debussy, Faure, in France, did take a few steps forward. ~ Pierre Schaeffer

Of course, mankind has made giant steps forward. However, what we know is really very, very little compared to what we still have to know. ~ Fabiola Gianotti

Don't step backward toward nothing, step forward toward something, better awkward steps forward, than coward steps backward. ~ Victoria Addino

The struggle is to stay present enough when you're taking your next step forward that you're really making your most honest choices. ~ Sara Bareilles

Because it's not perfect, let's not bother."
That's crazy! Even if we take three steps forward and two and a half back it's still going half a foot forward. ~ Stephen Fry

The problem is that once I start on a song and get a rough idea of where I might go with an arrangement, I try dozens, sometimes hundreds, of different things on a song. The bass, the backing guitars, the lead guitars, the keyboards. It's a long process. It's like 100 steps forward and 99 steps back. ~ Tom Scholz

At last, somebody in line steps forward. "I can commit," he says. He's a tall, lean young man with a rifle slung over his back.
"What's your name?" Chris asks.
"Andrew," he replies. "And I'm in."
Chris nods. A few other guys step forward and, after a few moments, the entire crowd of ex-POWs takes one step, signifying their decision. My chest swells with pride – pride for Chris's leadership, pride for the people willing to give their lives to take down Omega.
It's a rush. ~ Summer Lane

So don't stop moving forward. For a while, you may feel as though you're taking two steps forward, one step back. And there may be some personal heartache along the way. But when you look your little ones in the eye, you will find your voice and take a stand for them. We are their voices. And we must have the courage to stand up for them, whatever the odds or however powerful the opposition might be. ~ Robyn

What do you have that I could possibly want?"
With a knowing smile, he pulled an envelope from his back pocket. Even from across the room, Jag's handwriting made my heart pound. I took several steps forward, never removing my eyes from the two letters of my name. Jake could have anything he wanted. Kidney, liver, whatever. ~ Elana Johnson

I think Bitcoin is a massive conceptual and helpful step forward. ~ Godfrey Bloom

The devolution of American culture takes another great step forward ~ Michael Chabon

God loves violence. You understand that, don't you?" "No," Teddy said, "I don't." The warden walked a few steps forward and turned to face Teddy. "Why else would there be so much of it? It's in us. It comes out of us. It is what we do more naturally than we breathe. We wage war. We burn sacrifices. We pillage and tear at the flesh of our brothers. We fill great fields with our stinking dead. And why? To show Him that we've learned from His example. ~ Dennis Lehane

Courage is not the absence of fear - it s inspiring others to move beyond it. ~ Nelson Mandela

For a long, breathless moment we wait, time spinning into an eternity, while the excitement in my chest bursts. As the red curtain rises, my mother releases my hand and steps forward...Because of the stage lights, my mother's silhouette is all I see as the velvet curtain makes its silent ascent into the darkness. The blinding spotlight looks like a sun rising on the horizon, and though I can't see the people in the audience, the scent of perfume and expensive cigar smoke assures me of their presence, as does the excessively polite, well-bred clapping. ~ Teri Brown

Step forward, use your voice, get out in the world, and live! ~ Louise Hay

She is sitting on frozen ground wrapped in a blanket, her pale skin shining. She smiles and she stands and without words, she steps forward, opens the blanket, envelops me within it and within her and within myself. She kisses my cheek, the one not torn, she wraps me and she holds me. Her arms are thin but strong. She whispers in my ear, I'm glad you're here. ~ James Frey

If you aren't losing weight, and you know you need to (you know), then you gotta go look in the mirror. Step up and own it. Don't hate yourself. Don't play the victim. Just admit that there's some room for improvement and start improving. It might be two steps forward and one step back for a while. That's fine. It's still one step forward. ~ Shannon Sorrels

Somebody has to start. Somebody has to step forward and do what is right, because it is right. ~ Brandon Sanderson

I pull back and tell him, "You're amazing."

He gives me a soft smirk. "That is the general consensus."

I smile. "And I love you."

He sets my feet on the floor but keeps his arms around my waist. "Good. Then you're going to let me put three locks on the door of whatever apartment you decide to move into. And a chain. And a dead bolt."

I smile wider. "Okay."

Drew slowly steps forward, backing me up toward the bed.

"And you're not going to bitch when I have a security system installed."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

We take another step together, almost like we're dancing.

"I'm thinking about buying you one of those 'I've fallen and I can't get up' necklaces too."

My eyes squint as I pretend to think about the idea. "We'll talk about it."

"And . . . you're going to let me walk you home from work every night."

"Yes."

The back of my legs make contact with the bed frame.

"I'm also going to come to every doctor's appointment with you."

"I didn't for a second imagine you wouldn't."

Drew cups my face in his hands. "And one day, I'm going to ask you to marry me. And you're going to know it's not because you're pregnant, or because of some misguided attempt to keep you."

Tears spring into my eyes as we gaze at each other.

In a rough voice, he continues, "You're going to know I'm asking because noth ~ Emma Chase

So it is in life ... In search of the truth, people make two steps forward and one step back. Sufferings, mistakes, and the tedium of life throw them back, but the thirst for truth and a stubborn will drive them on and on. And who knows? Maybe they'll row their way to the real truth ... ~ Anton Chekhov

As I read the Bible, it seems clear that God satisfies his "eternal appetite" by loving individual human beings. I imagine He views each halting step forward in my spiritual "walk" with the eagerness of a parent watching a child take the very first step. ~ Philip Yancey

The first ghost to leave the world of the dead was Roger. He took a step forward, and turned to look back at Lyra, and laughed in surprise as he found himself turning into the night, the starlight, the air ... and then he was gone, leaving behind such a vivid little burst of happiness. ~ Philip Pullman

When I was 13 and 14, there were a lot of jokes about my bar mitzvah and my grandparents, and then when I got older, it became more about touching boobs and trying to get liquor. I kind of ran the gamut of infantile behavior and I haven't moved one step forward since. ~ Seth Rogen

When you associate pleasure and pain, at the same time, to a certain purpose in your mind, you sabotage yourself; you'll be two steps forward and one back. ~ Elena D. Calin

In this world
when you ask of happiness
Pain steps forward ~ Guru Nanak

He that writes may be considered as a kind of general challenger, whom every one has a right to attack; since he quits the common rank of life, steps forward beyond the lists, and offers his merit to the public judgement. To commence author is to claim praise, and no man can justly aspire to honour, but at the hazard of disgrace. ~ Samuel Johnson

What's your name?" I ask him.
We're standing in front of my door.
He stops suprised. Lifts his chin almost imperecmptly. Focuses his eyes on my face until I begin to regret my question.
"You want to know my name."
I don't do it on purpose, but my eyes narrow just a bit.
"Warner is your last name, isn't it?"
He almost smiles. "You want to know my name"
"I didn't realize it was a secret."
He steps forward. His lips twitch. His eyes fall, his lips draw in a tight breath. He drops a gloved finger down the apple of my cheek. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours,"
He whispers, too close to my neck.
I inch backward. Swallow hard.
"You already know my name."
He's not looking at my eyes. "You're right. I should rephrase that. What I meant to say was I'll tell you mine if you show me yours."
"What?" I'm breathing too fast too suddenly.
He begins to pull off his gloves and I begin to panic.
"Show me what you can do."
My jaw is tight and my teeth have begun to ache. "I won't touch you"
"That's all right." He tugs off the other glove. "I don't exactly need your help."
"No-"
"Don't worry." He grins. "I'm sure it won't hurt you at all."
"No," I gasp "No, I won't-I can't-"
"Fine," Warner snaps "That's fine. You don't want to hurt me. I'm so utterly flattered." He almost rolls his eyes. ~ Tahereh Mafi

In science, each new result, sometimes quite surprising, heralds a step forward and allows one to discard some hypotheses, even though one or two of these might have been highly favored. ~ Stanley B. Prusiner

The largest single contributor to Iraq's security is that effort of Iraqi people who continue to step forward to join the various Iraqi security forces. ~ Craig L. Thomas

People are not remembered by how few times they fail, but by how often they succeed. Every wrong step is another step forward ~ Thomas A. Edison

I wish I could say that I suddenly discovered my inner warrior princess and expertly leaped at Archer, weapon hoisted high, teeth bared.That would have been cool.
Instead I raised the stake to about shoulder height and took two, maybe three shuffling steps forward. ~ Rachel Hawkins

To me, curiosity is married to optimism. And that's where a lot of my motivation comes from. A lot of my way out of depression and anxiety is that intersection between optimism and curiosity. Because it means taking a step forward with the hope that there will be discovery. ~ Carrie Brownstein

If I tell the Berliners to step forward, they do it. If I tell the Viennese to step forward, they do it, but then they ask why. ~ Herbert Von Karajan

Her mum is leaning against the wall, arms crossed, when Summer exits. "Gage left from here a few minutes ago," she says, tone neutral. "His hair was ruffled." She gestures with her hand above her head.
The haze Gage left Summer in vanishes. She frowns.
Her mum sighs and steps forward. Smooths her daughter's hair. "If he hurts you," she says in a mild tone, "I'll kill him. ~ Laura Kreitzer

It does seem true that a young woman may sometimes behave in a way that can be called titillating, and that men take such behavior as being directed entirely at them. [...]
I've often seen blushing young men with shining eyes behave in the same way, but no one says of them that they want to be raped. If, after taking a few steps forward, they then decide to retreat, no one accuses them of being cunt teasers. In fact, the disappointed woman probably thinks it's all her fault. ~ Marilyn French

Sometimes when a person does things to deliberately hurt you,
All you need to do is shift atleast six steps back to observe the situation.
If it is worth enduring, move two steps forward.
If not, turn around and bless them with your back. ~ Nomthandazo Tsembeni

The presidents of colleges have to have some courage to step forward. You can't limit alcohol in college sports, you have to get rid of it. ~ Dean Smith

This is a proud day and an important step forward in the fight for equality in Britain. The overwhelming majority of Labour MPs supported this change to make sure marriage reflects the value we place on long-term, loving relationships whoever you love. ~ Ed Miliband

You want to do something for the Lord ... do it. Whatever you feel needs to be done, even though youre shaking in your boots, youre scared to death
take the first step forward. The grace comes with that one step and you get the grace as you step. Being afraid is not a problem; its doing nothing when you feel afraid. ~ Mother Angelica

don't work yourself to the point of a mental breakdown. give priority to your mental health. you are only a few steps away from completely losing your balance and breaking your mind. take one step back every time you take two steps forward. breathe. be mindful. see through life as it transpires moment by moment. learn when to rest. sleep is important. eating healthily is important. everything you do for the sake of your sanity is important. being kind to your mind is the best self-care there is. if there's anything that's lovely about you, it is your mind. ~ Juansen Dizon

He doesn't even care about you!" Warner explodes. I flinch at the sudden, uncontrolled intensity in his voice.
"He just wants a way out of here and he's using you!"
He steps forward. "I could love you, Juliette-I would treat you like a queen- ~ Tahereh Mafi

He [Rubio] is so knowledgeable about this issue ... I'm glad to see somebody with his background step forward and say it's important and we need to look at it. ~ Saxby Chambliss

There are three things you should know about me, love." He steps forward.
"The first," he says, "is that I hate my father more than you might ever be capable of understanding."
He clears his throat.
"Second, is that I am an unapologetically selfish person, who, in almost every situation, makes decisions based entirely on self-interest. And third." A pause as he looks down. Laughs a little.
"I never had any intention of using you as a weapon. ~ Tahereh Mafi

The irony is that each new war begins in hope: hope of restoring lost honor, hope of redressing injustices and reclaiming tarnished glory, hope of a grand new world. Each war ends with the black seeds of the next war sown: honor newly lost, injustice freshly inflicted, a world more broken than before. Always, someone steps forward, ready to water and weed and harvest those black seeds, dreaming of the day when they will bring forth their bounty of vindictive vindication. Into that dreamer's ear, a bloodred god whispers, "Offer flattery in one hand, fear in the other. Rule or be ruled! Dominate or disappear!"

The rationales warp and shift. The closer war comes, the simpler and stupider the choices. Are you a warrior or a coward? Are you with us or against us?

"All men dream," Colonel Lawrence wrote, "but not equally. Those who dream by night wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. ~ Mary Doria Russell

The story of America is...one of slow, often unsteady steps forward. If we expect the trumpets of a given era to sound unwavering notes, we will be disappointed, for the past tells us that politics is an uneven symphony. ~ Jon Meacham

We are always being pushed and squeezed down one road or another. We have no choice but to step forward, and then step forward again, and then step forward again; suddenly we find ourselves on a road we haven't chosen at all. ~ Lauren Oliver

He'd know about the role of mirror neurons in the brain, special cells in the premotor cortex that fire right before a person reaches for a rock, steps forward, turns away, begins to smile.Amazingly, the same neurons fire whether we do something or watch someone else do the same thing, and both summon similar feelings. Learning form our own mishaps isn't as safe as learning from someone else's, which helps us decipher the world of intentions, making our social whirl possible. The brain evolved clever ways to spy or eavesdrop on risk, to fathom another's joy or pain quickly, as detailed sensations, without resorting to words. We feel what we see, we experience others as self. ~ Diane Ackerman

Ingenuity and creativity, even for a defeating case of two steps forward and one backward, applied strategically can covert a loss into gain. ~ Priyavrat Thareja

You took something that belonged to me." He let go of my arm and pushed to his feet.
My mouth fell open and a loud gasp escaped as he took two impossible steps forward.
Pinning me against the wall with his hard body, he lifted a hand to my throat and glided it up until his thumb stroked over my bottom lip. Using my chin, he turned my head and dragged his nose up my neck, stopping at my ear.
After sucking in a deep breath, he released it on a gravelly demand. "And I want her back. ~ Aly Martinez

I didn't have a choice."
"Are you saying...What are you saying?" Is he...could he be talking about me?
He runs a hand through his hair. I've never seen him this emotional before. He's always so controlled, so sure of himself. "I'm saying you're what I want, Emma. I'm saying I'm in love with you."
He steps forward and lifts his hand to my cheek, blazing a line of fire with his fingertips as they trace down to my mouth. "How do you think it would make me feel to see you with Grom?" he whispers. "Like someone ripped my heart out and put it through Rachel's meat grinder, that's how. Probably worse. It would probably kill me. Emma, please don't cry."
I throw my hands in the air. "Don't cry? Are you serious? Why did you come here, Galen? Did you think it would make me feel better to know that you do love me, but that it still won't work out? That I still have to mate with Grom for the greater good? Don't you tell me not to cry, Galen! I...c...c...can't h...h...help-" The waterworks soak me. Galen looks at me, hands by his side, helpless as a trapped crab. I'm bordering on hyperventilation, and pretty soon I'll start hiccupping. This is too much.
His expression is so severe, it looks like he's in physical pain. "Emma," he breathes. "Emma, does this mean you feel the same way? Do you care for me at all?"
I laugh, but it sounds sharper than I intended, because of a hiccup. "What does it matter how I feel, Galen? I think we pretty much covered why. No need ~ Anna Banks

If you push yourself to stay hungry, you're always working towards at least taking steps forward. If you're taking steps forward, then you're making progress. ~ G-Eazy

The aspirant who frequently measures how far he has advanced, or retrograded, upon this path, or how long he has stood still, is seeking something to be gained for himself, is looking all the time at himself. He is measuring the ego instead of trying to transcend it altogether. He is clinging to self, instead of obeying Jesus' injunction to deny it. Looking at the ego, he unwittingly stands with his back to the Overself. If he is ever to become enlightened, he must turn round, cease this endless self-measurement, stop fussing over little steps forward or backward, let all thoughts about his own backwardness or greatness cease, and look directly at the goal itself. ~ Paul Brunton

As she watched all of this, Liesel was certain that these were the poorest souls alive. That's what she wrote about them ... Some looked appealingly at those who had come to observe their humiliation, this prelude to their deaths. Others pleaded for someone, anyone to step forward and catch them in their arms.
No one did. ~ Markus Zusak

You hid behind the door? Really?" She steps forward sheepishly. "I'm sorry." "You can shove your sorries in a sack, baby ~ Elle Kennedy

Has racial justice improved? Have we moved on from Reconstruction and Jim Crow? Been lifted by Martin and the Civil Rights Act of 1964? It seems that whenever we take two steps forward, we take a step back . . . ~ Mark M. Bello

A government should not function based on the pressures of some or others. It should try to adapt a mix of measures that fits every context and generates the appropriate steps forward. ~ Laura Chinchilla

I also know two steps forward and one step back is the rule, not the exception, as people work on change. ~ Madeline Levine

What may look like a small act of courage is courage nevertheless. The important thing is to be willing to take a step forward. ~ Daisaku Ikeda

Life isn't a linear journey. Sometimes it's one step backwards, two steps forward and then a jump out to the side. It's kind of like the "Time Warp", when you think about it.
Life follows many directions and hopefully, eventually, your mind and body and life and love, all catch up with each other. ~ Karina Halle

Humanity is a crazy contradiction. I accept us for who we are. We're not that great. Every time we take a step forward we go back to the same primitive behavior. We're meant to be this way. It's not our fault, it's just who we are. ~ Colin Quinn

The third important ingredient for achieving peak performance is attitude. Attitude is how you deal with the inevitable adverse situations that occur in the markets. Attitude is also how you handle the daily grind, the constant 2 steps forward and 2 steps back. ~ Linda Bradford Raschke

If a soul is not honoring his or her journey by dimming his or her own light, a Guardian of Light steps forward on behalf of that soul and states, I am going to honor you, for I know you hold immense value in the eyes of the Universe and I can still see your light. ~ Molly Friedenfeld

All the other large and small nationalities and peoples are destined to perish before long in the revolutionary world storm ... The next world war will result in the disappearance from the face of the earth not only of reactionary classes and dynasties, but also of entire reactionary peoples. And that, too, is a step forward. ~ Friedrich Engels

Okay. Now my skin is really prickling. I've read all the Harry Potter books, all five of them. I don't remember any half-blood prince.
"What's this?" Trying to sound casual, I point at the ad, "What's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?"
"That's the latest book," Garth the other trainee, says. "It came out ages ago."
I can't help gasping. "There's a sixth Harry Potter?"
"There's a seventh out soon!" Diana steps forward eagerly. "And guess what happens at the end of book six-"
"Shh!" exclaims Nicole, the other nurse. "Don't tell her! ~ Sophie Kinsella

When ever possible ... take the necessary steps forward towards peace and proclaiming truth. It's always possible. ~ Timothy Pina

I tell people to frame the picture. Make the greatest, most perfect composition you can ... and then take a step forward. It skews it a bit and makes it more interesting. ~ Larry Clark

Whenever you take a step forward, you are bound to disturb something. ~ Indira Gandhi

Don't be discouraged or disheartened because transformation gets messy. You are going to have to adjust things on the fly and there is going to be a lot of ambiguity. And sometimes it is going to be two steps forward and three steps back because the next day you will take four and one. You better have a lot of energy and persistence because this is a long-distance race and not a sprint. ~ Aaron Anderson

What was my path to success? Well, there were some steps forward, some back, some to the side ... maybe it wasn't a path, but more of a dance. ~ Steve Maraboli

He steps forward and kisses my forehead. His breath is soft, devastating warmth on my face. He turns and leaves. He chooses survival over me. It's no different than what I have done. We are both just trying so hard to survive me. ~ Tara Brown

She [Susanna] realized she was still hugging the wall. Pride propelled her two steps forward. As she advanced, something bleated at her, as though chastising her for trespassing. She stopped midstep and peered at it. "Did you know there's a lamb in here?"
"Never mind it. That's dinner."
She gave it a smile and a friendly pat. "Hullo, Dinner. Aren't you a sweet thing."
"It's not his name, it's his ... function. ~ Tessa Dare

All great reforms have a unique aspect where, at first, one man steps forward as a champion to represent many millions of supporters.
His goal is the same as the heart's desire inside hundreds of thousands of men from centuries before. The world waits until someone finally appears as the herald of the masses to raise the flag of their deepest desire and lead them to victory with a new idea. ~ Adolf Hitler

The Lord needs women who will step forward in righteousness and say, 'Here am I, send me.' ~ M. Russell Ballard

It is necessary sometimes to take one step backward to take two steps forward. ~ Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Progress begins with the minority. It is completed by persuading the majority, by showing the reason and the of the step forward, and that is accomplished by appealing to the intelligence of the majority. ~ George William Curtis

We usually believe that the tamer is attacked by the lion and that the tamer stops his attack by raising his whip or firing a blank. Wrong: the lion was fed and sedated before it entered the cage and doesn't feel like attacking anybody. Like all animals, it has its own space; if you don't invade that space, the lion remains calm. When the tamer steps forward, invading it, the lion roars; the tamer then raises his whip, but also takes a step backward (as if in expectation of a charge), whereupon the lion calms down. ~ Umberto Eco

It's not over, and you know it."
"No, I don't." I back around the side of the coffee table.
He matches my every step. I step back; he steps forward. I move away; he moves in.
"Yes, you do because you know it will never be over."
… "Time, circumstance, tragedy - nothing can change that. You and me, there isn't an over for us. ~ Nicole Williams

The most disturbing part of working on all these issues is the amount of money spent by corporations to confuse, mislead and misinform the public. This is one of the reasons why we are always taking two steps forward and three steps back. ~ Laurie David

When you try to do one step forward to attain knowledge about the hidden truths, then do the same time three steps forward to perfect your character. ~ Rudolf Steiner

Science seldom proceeds in the straightforward logical manner imagined by outsiders. Instead, its steps forward (and sometimes backward) are often very human events in which personalities and cultural traditions play major roles. ~ James D. Watson

Extraordinary individuals take one step back and two steps forward with most every challenge-and sometimes two steps back to one step forward. They harvest useful lessons and knowledge from what doesn't work, and they display a remarkable resiliency; and ability to bounce back from adversity. ~ Jerry I. Porras

My stride falters. We've done this dance a hundred times. I know the steps - two steps forward, ten steps back. We circle the floor and can never quite find our rhythm. ~ Corinne Michaels

In life, it take strides forward, but you always take a few steps back. But in the end, if you take more steps forward than backward, you're making progress. ~ Carmen Rodrigues

Her face screws up in disgust and she steps forward. "You're a fool, Miller Hart. He'll never let you walk away."
He explodes.
"I love her!" he roars, knocking every person back in the room. "I fucking love her!" Tears burst from my eyes and I fall into his side. He immediately grabs me and pulls me close. "I love her. I love everything she stands for and I love how much she loves me. It's more than you love me. It's more than any of you claim to love me! It's pure and light. It's made me feel. It's made me want more. If any fucker tries to take her away from me, I'll fucking kill them." Pulling up for a second, he gathers a long breath. "Slowly," he adds, shaking beside me, clinging to me tightly, like he's afraid someone will try right now. "I don't care what he says. I don't care what he thinks he can do to me. It'll be him sleeping with one eye open, Sophia, not me. So tell him. Fucking run to him and confirm what he already knows. I don't want to fuck for living anymore. Tell him I don't want to line his pockets anymore. You're not holding me to ransom. Miller Hart is out of the game. The Special One has quit!" He withdraws and takes a few moments to suck in another calming gulp of air, while everyone looks at him, shocked. Including me. "I love her. Go to him. Tell him I love her. Tell him I'm Olivia's now. And tell him if he even thinks about touching a hair on her precious head, it'll be the last thing he ever does. ~ Jodi Ellen Malpas

Let us refuse to be silent! Speaking freely is a decisive step forward on the road to freedom. ~ Leyla Zana

We will have taken one giant step forward when we face this reality: Powerful people never teach powerless people how to take their power away from them. ~ John Henrik Clarke

The grief is not over, it will never be over. It still trips me up in unexpected moments, stumbling me all over again. What does it: a reminisce with Paul, the sight of a mate laughing so easily with their mum, a Klimt painting we both loved. Simple things. Two steps forward, one step back, righting myself and then not.
But the moving forward is stronger, swifter now; the seam of melancholy more hidden. Yes, climbing back into the world. Firm. ~ Nikki Gemmell

When all beliefs are challenged together, the just and necessary ones have a chance to step forward and re-establish themselves alone. ~ George Santayana