Ari Shavit Quotes

While I've written in the POV (point of view) of adolescent characters before... I never have had to create novels in which those characters not only drive the plot, but also are instrumental in resolving whatever issue the plot deals with.

If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox.

Take full responsibility for your life, move forward in the direction of your dreams

What once was cuddled must learn to kiss The cold wonn's mouth. That's all the mystery.

Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when he/she is right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."

I reckon responsible behavior is something to get when you grow older. Like varicose veins.

The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you.If you take nothing else from what I've been through, at least remember this: make your choices well. Because you'll always be accountable for them. That's what being an adult is all about.

Grown up, and that is a terribly hard thing to do. It is much easier to skip it and go from one childhood to another.

But kids don't stay with you if you do it right. It's the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run.

In fact, I am so happy to be turning 40 and finally having a reason to take responsibility for my own behavior. It's also worked for me in terms of my physical appearance and emotional make-up and people entrusting me to bring the things a role deserves. I don't know whether that's depth or being a curmudgeon or what.

Maturity comes not with age but with the acceptance of responsibility. You are only young once but immaturity can last a lifetime!

The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet.

Every time I take a step in the direction of generosity, I know I am moving from fear to love.

What Barack Obama calls bipartisanship is not moving to the right, but finding where people who consider themselves conservatives share these fundamental American values. When he talks about union, that's the kind of thing he means. That requires common responsibility. Individual responsibility is one of the hallmarks of conservative thought. In conservative religion, you yourself are responsible for whether you get into heaven. Or with fiscal conservatives, you are the market. It's your individual discipline and market discipline.

You know you're grown up when summer is just a season.

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.

I devoutly believe that there is no difficulty between two people for which both are not responsible.

As I grew older and more mature, I've been able to move beyond the immediate response of violence to a projection of the pragmatic, political consequences of that violence. So it's an effort to attain equilibrium.

A man is at his youngest when he thinks he is a man, not yet realizing that his actions must show it.

Before you judge me... I plead guilty

The three most difficult words to speak are, "I was wrong."

Maturity begins on the day we accept responsibility for our own actions.

You just have to be strong and don't be stupid; freedom of choice is a big responsibility.

To take responsibility for one's own actions, good and bad, is something else.

People need responsibility. They resist assuming it, but they cannot get along without it.