Do you know the perfect quote for my sister's graduation?
August 9, 2013 11:12 AM Subscribe
My younger sister is graduating from University (UK), with a degree in Press Photography. I'm looking for a quote to frame and give to my sister as a graduation gift. I have found many examples of typical 'graduation' quotes, but I'm looking for something a bit more specific, which will ideally fit a number of the criteria below.
In an ideal world, the quote would fit some (or all!) of the following criteria (in rough order of importance):
- related to graduation, a big life-change, the sense of a new chapter beginning, going into adulthood, etc.
- referring to the potential of her adult life and/or chosen career. She is incredibly passionate about social justice, particularly the rights of women and slavery. She works extensively on projects raising awareness of sex trafficking, female genital mutilation, etc. She intends to pursue a career in this field more so than the press photography route. She wants to make a change and feels very strongly that this is what she is 'meant to do'.
- Not too long. Up to three sentences would be perfect. I'm not intending to print it very large, and I would like it to be readable rather than a wall of text.
- My sister is Christian, so references to religion are ok. However, I am not at all religious myself so I would feel uncomfortable giving her anything in which God/religion is mentioned more than incidentally.
- Anything which alludes to the sister relationship would be a bonus!
To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, the following quote most closely fits my ideal right now: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only dream, but also believe." (Anatole France)
Thank you in advance!
In an ideal world, the quote would fit some (or all!) of the following criteria (in rough order of importance):
- related to graduation, a big life-change, the sense of a new chapter beginning, going into adulthood, etc.
- referring to the potential of her adult life and/or chosen career. She is incredibly passionate about social justice, particularly the rights of women and slavery. She works extensively on projects raising awareness of sex trafficking, female genital mutilation, etc. She intends to pursue a career in this field more so than the press photography route. She wants to make a change and feels very strongly that this is what she is 'meant to do'.
- Not too long. Up to three sentences would be perfect. I'm not intending to print it very large, and I would like it to be readable rather than a wall of text.
- My sister is Christian, so references to religion are ok. However, I am not at all religious myself so I would feel uncomfortable giving her anything in which God/religion is mentioned more than incidentally.
- Anything which alludes to the sister relationship would be a bonus!
To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, the following quote most closely fits my ideal right now: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only dream, but also believe." (Anatole France)
Thank you in advance!
We see a great deal of the world. Our obligation is to pass it on to others. - Margaret Bourke-White - Source: Popular Photography, May 2007
posted by carmicha at 11:32 AM on August 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 11:32 AM on August 9, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." –Henri Cartier-Bresson
posted by Kabanos at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 11:33 AM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
Be original and develop your own style, but don’t forget above anything and everything else. . .be human. . .think. . .feel. When you find yourself beginning to feel a bond between yourself and the people you photograph, when you laugh and cry with their laughter and tears, you will know you are on the right track. . . .Good luck.
–Weegee
posted by Kabanos at 11:36 AM on August 9, 2013
–Weegee
posted by Kabanos at 11:36 AM on August 9, 2013
This is a bit religious but wonderful too, especially because the source is Helen Keller:
Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.
posted by bearwife at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2013
Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light.
posted by bearwife at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2013
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
posted by JohnR at 11:44 AM on August 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
Joseph Campbell
posted by JohnR at 11:44 AM on August 9, 2013 [3 favorites]
One more, from Eleanor Roosevelt:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
posted by bearwife at 11:49 AM on August 9, 2013
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
posted by bearwife at 11:49 AM on August 9, 2013
"So much has been destroyed I have cast my lot with those who, age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world." - Adrienne Rich
I discovered this quote in Paul Hawken's commencement speech to the University of Portland in 2009. That entire speech is beautiful and inspiring - definitely worth reading in its entirety and sharing with your sister. Other excerpts that have stuck with me from the speech include:
"Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done."
and
"The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hope only makes sense when it doesn't make sense to be hopeful. This is your century. Take it and run as if your life depends on it."
posted by Bokonon11 at 12:35 PM on August 9, 2013
I discovered this quote in Paul Hawken's commencement speech to the University of Portland in 2009. That entire speech is beautiful and inspiring - definitely worth reading in its entirety and sharing with your sister. Other excerpts that have stuck with me from the speech include:
"Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done."
and
"The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hope only makes sense when it doesn't make sense to be hopeful. This is your century. Take it and run as if your life depends on it."
posted by Bokonon11 at 12:35 PM on August 9, 2013
'Better to light a candle than curse the darkness'
First spoken in public by Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International
Those who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who only dream by night.
-Edgar Allan Poe ("Eleonora")
The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you can alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change the world.
-James Baldwin
An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. –Anatole France
Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood. ~Louisa May Alcott
What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries
When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown
posted by Laura_J at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
First spoken in public by Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International
Those who dream by day are cognisant of many things which escape those who only dream by night.
-Edgar Allan Poe ("Eleonora")
The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you can alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change the world.
-James Baldwin
An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don't. –Anatole France
Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood. ~Louisa May Alcott
What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries
When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown
posted by Laura_J at 1:00 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bearwife at 11:29 AM on August 9, 2013