Every day Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
““I went to a tattoo parlor and had YES written onto the palm of my left hand, and NO onto my right palm, what can I say, it hasn't made my life wonderful, its made life possible, when I rub my hands against each other in the middle of winter I am warming myself with the friction of YES and NO, when I clap my hands I am showing my appreciation through the uniting and parting of YES and NO, I signify "book" by peeling open my hands, every book, for me, is the balance of YES and NO, even this one, my last one, especially this one. Does it break my heart, of course, every moment of every day, into more pieces than my heart was made of, I never thought of myself as quiet, much less silent, I never thought about things at all, everything changed, the distance that wedged itself between me and my happiness wasn't the world, it wasn't the bombs and burning buildings, it was me, my thinking, the cancer of never letting go, is ignorance bliss, I don't know, but it's so painful to think, and tell me, what did thinking ever do for me, to what great place did thinking ever bring me? I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, 2005 (excerpt)
The juxtaposition of yes and no symbolizes life's dualities, suggesting that embracing both opposites creates meaning and warmth amidst hardship.
In simple terms: Balancing opposites gives life purpose and comfort.
Accept both affirmation and denial.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing therapy
- mindfulness practice
- artistic expression
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you integrate opposing forces in daily life?
- What does “yes” and “no” represent for you?
Focusing solely on one side can lead to stagnation or despair.