Iris Apfel Quotes

Dark comedy helped me survive.

The warrior is Here, Now.

Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

When I found out I had cancer, I just said one thing: 'I want to hold on to life' and that changed everything for me.

Confine yourself to the present.

When I decided to stay in Iraq, I decided to take the fear out of my body and put it into a freezer.

I always live in the present - I love the present. I cherish the future.

I should have died in ambushes a hundred times.

The present is a point just passed.

I'm a survivor, at least that's what everyone tells me.

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.

If we survive danger it steels our courage more than anything else.

I want the reader to be in the shoes of everyday people who are facing incredible dangers and wonder if they would make the same choices.

When people are in the midst of really heavy stuff and still have a sense of humor, I admire that.

If life is so critical, if Anne Frank could die, if my friend could die, children were as vulnerable as adults, and that gave me a secret purpose to my work, to make them live. Because I wanted to live. I wanted to grow up.

I'm going to beat this cancer or die trying.

What is the biggest thing that stops people from living their lives in the present moment? Fear - and we must learn how to overcome fear.

If the finest hour is now, then I'll always be in it.

I think if you come from a history of persecution you have to develop a sense of humour.

Humour is the weapon of unarmed people: it helps people who are oppressed to smile at the situation that pains them.

If you want to live, you have to face your fears.

You don't have to be a scared person. I've had so many tragedies. I've managed to withstand things that you may think you cannot tolerate. But I have the strength.

You were not built for comfort and convenience. You were built to overcome.

Most men, I think, wonder about their courage. How would they act in combat? Under torture?

Carry on, carry on, what don't kill us makes us strong.