Weekly Lists #69: Favorite literary quotes (printables)

So to ring in the New Year I did a post in all citations – and quite frankly, I loved making it. I love reading as is, and I so often come across quotes where I just go “Oh, I have to share that”. This post is basically a chance to do exactly that. To share with you some of my absolute favorite literary quotes. So let’s get started!

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1. Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie

“To die would be an awfully big adventure”

Alternately, the version from Hook (to live would be an awfully big adventure) might just be slightly more optimistic, but I do really like the original version as well 🙂 I don’t really know why, except for the fact that there’s this theory that Peter Pan is actually an angel, come to get the children who’ve died (thus explaining why none of the children grow up). And I guess I just really like the way this quote plays into that?

2. The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

This entire book takes place so near to me (The Netherlands are literally right above Belgium), and partially because of that this book has always really touched me. This one quote in particular really stuck with me, because there is just such truth in it. Quite often it is entirely too easy to complain about the state of the world, and then do nothing about it. But guess what? Nothing’s going to change unless we actually do try and change the world. Maybe it’ll feel like climbing an endless hill, but every change brings with it more change. Right?

(Another quote from this book that was in the running for quite some time: “In spite of everything, I still believe people are really good at heart.” Because I think we probably all need that little re-affirmation from time to time!)

3. Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Caroll

“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”

Something we could probably all do with keeping in mind a little more, right? It’s so easy to look back at how you were at any certain point in your life and then worry that that person was better. However, that person also hadn’t gone through whatever it was that made you into who you are today. And for the better or for the worse, those changes mean you’re a different person now than you were then!

4. Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

“Not all those who wander are lost.”

Of course this one had to be in here – after all, this quote is quite epic. And also: yes! (In related news: It’s the journey, not the destination, etc.)

5. Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman

“I celebrate myself, and sing myself.”

I first came across this quote when we discussed Leaves of Grass in a class on American Literature. This quote might seem just a tad self-centred, but you know what?  Sometimes we should be just a bit more self-centred, in a positive way. You know – celebrate yourself!

So, there you have it – that’s 5 of my favourite literary quotes for you! Here’s the thing though, these literally change just about every other day, so I’m probably going to end up making another post like this anyways… Oh well? Be sure to let me know below if you feel like there’s another quote that definitely should have been in this list!

-Saar