--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether you need the solace of normality…" description: "\"“Whether you need the solace of normality more than you need your unique power is a personal matter, which only you may decide. But Sissy, don't let pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg" --- # Whether you need the solace of normality more than you… ![“Whether you need the solace of normality more than you need your unique power is a personal matter, which only you may decide. But Sissy, don't let people such as Julian Gitche influence your decision. Julian needs your thumbs, huge and murmuring like the mouths of unexplored rivers – just the way…” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg) > ““Whether you need the solace of normality more than you need your unique power is a personal matter, which only you may decide. But Sissy, don't let people such as Julian Gitche influence your decision. Julian needs your thumbs, huge and murmuring like the mouths of unexplored rivers – just the way nature made them – even if he isn't wise enough to understand that he needs them.”” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing conformity and individuality is personal; external influences should not dictate one's unique strengths. **In simple terms:** Choose between normality and personal power; ignore undue influence. Key Takeaway Trust your own judgment over others. Themes individuality conformity personal power influence Mood introspective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal development - creative projects Key Concepts self‑determination social pressure authenticity choice Questions to Reflect On - What personal power are you neglecting? - How do you differentiate healthy advice from manipulation? A Different Perspective External opinions can be persuasive; discern wisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decide Sissy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-sissy-672732/) [Decision Julian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-julian-672734/) [Julian Gitche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/julian-gitche-672733/) [Julian Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/julian-needs-672731/) [Personal matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-matter/) [Unique Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-power-526553/) ## Related quotes > [“Quotes and notes to self- Divine and Unique Power Find out what my Individual Divine and Unique Power IS and offer it outwards in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-rufus/quotes-and-notes-to-self-divine-and-unique-power-find-out-what-my/) [Allan Rufus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-rufus/) > [The Roman Catholic Church has the unique power of keeping remote control over human souls which have once been part of her. G.K. Chesterton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/the-roman-catholic-church-has-the-unique-power-of-keeping-remote/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Find out what my Individual Divine and Unique Power IS and offer it outwards in harmony with all life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-rufus/find-out-what-my-individual-divine-and-unique-power-is-and-offer-it/) [Alan Rufus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-rufus/) > [“But fiction has the unique power of revealing something true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-smith/but-fiction-has-the-unique-power-of-revealing-something-true/) [Ali Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-smith/) > [Stories have a unique power, David. The Inuit believe they can capture souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-d-lacey/stories-have-a-unique-power-david-the-inuit-believe-they-can-capture/) [Chris d'Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-d-lacey/) > [Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle. The unique power that bindeth together, the divers element of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/love-is-the-most-great-law-that-ruleth-this-mighty-and-heavenly-cycle-2/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [You are special, gifted and unique. You have the power within to rise above any situation. Now use it, share it and be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/you-are-special-gifted-and-unique-you-have-the-power-within-to-rise/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Korean cinema is very improvisational, and there is a unique power that stems from this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bae-doona/korean-cinema-is-very-improvisational-and-there-is-a-unique-power/) [Bae Doona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bae-doona/) > [Images have a unique power to impart that which is beyond words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shirley/images-have-a-unique-power-to-impart-that-which-is-beyond-words/) [William Shirley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shirley/) > [“Women have a unique power through breastfeeding to maintain health, life and finite resources.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/women-have-a-unique-power-through-breastfeeding-to-maintain-health/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/love-is-the-most-great-law-that-ruleth-this-mighty-and-heavenly-cycle/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Speech gave man a unique power to lead a double life, he could say one thing and do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/speech-gave-man-a-unique-power-to-lead-a-double-life-he-could-say-one/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [People have pointed out evidences of personal feeling in my notices as if they were accusing me of a misdemeanor, not knowing that criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-have-pointed-out-evidences-of-personal-feeling-in-my-notices/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Death is a personal matter, arousing sorrow, despair, fervor, or dry-hearted philosophy. Funerals, on the other hand, are social functions. Imagine going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/death-is-a-personal-matter-arousing-sorrow-despair-fervor-or-dry/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Education should be totally secular. I am not telling people not to believe in God, but it should be a personal matter which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/education-should-be-totally-secular-i-am-not-telling-people-not-to/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Personal matter quotes > [Education should be totally secular. I am not telling people not to believe in God, but it should be a personal matter which should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/education-should-be-totally-secular-i-am-not-telling-people-not-to/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [“Death is a personal matter, arousing sorrow, despair, fervor, or dry-hearted philosophy. Funerals, on the other hand, are social functions. Imagine going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/death-is-a-personal-matter-arousing-sorrow-despair-fervor-or-dry/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [People have pointed out evidences of personal feeling in my notices as if they were accusing me of a misdemeanor, not knowing that criticism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/people-have-pointed-out-evidences-of-personal-feeling-in-my-notices/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Who knew, in 2000, that compassionate conservatism meant bigger government, unrestricted government spending, government intrusion in personal matters, government ineptitude, and cronyism in disaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-buckley/who-knew-in-2000-that-compassionate-conservatism-meant-bigger/) [Christopher Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-buckley/) > [I think most working relationships could benefit by excluding personal matters from the office chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-think-most-working-relationships-could-benefit-by-excluding/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [“As adults we choose our own reading material. Depending on our moods and needs we might read the newspaper, a blockbuster novel, an academic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/as-adults-we-choose-our-own-reading-material-depending-on-our-moods/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [Uncertainty is a personal matter; it is not the uncertainty but your uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lindley/uncertainty-is-a-personal-matter-it-is-not-the-uncertainty-but-your/) [Dennis Lindley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lindley/) > [Morality is a personal matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/morality-is-a-personal-matter/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [An order then should always be given not as a personal matter, not because the man giving it wants the thing done, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/an-order-then-should-always-be-given-not-as-a-personal-matter-not/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [The original meaning of the word tact referred to the sense of touch (as in 'tactile'), and came to mean skill in dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-original-meaning-of-the-word-tact-referred-to-the-sense-of-touch/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [I think abortion is something that, as a personal matter, I would advise somebody against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-think-abortion-is-something-that-as-a-personal-matter-i-would/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“Weather is a purely personal matter. There is no such thing as a climate that is cold or hot, good or bad, healthy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-mutis/weather-is-a-purely-personal-matter-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a/) [Álvaro Mutis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvaro-mutis/) > [There is a price tag on human liberty. That price is the willingness to assume the responsibilities of being free men. Payment of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/there-is-a-price-tag-on-human-liberty-that-price-is-the-willingness/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [Religion and faith are very personal matters. So far as the government is concerned, there is only one holy book, which is the Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/religion-and-faith-are-very-personal-matters-so-far-as-the-government/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Religion is no test of nationality, but a personal matter between man and his God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religion-is-no-test-of-nationality-but-a-personal-matter-between-man/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Browse all 58 Personal matter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-matter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Whether you need the solace of normality more than you need your unique power is a personal matter, which only you may decide. But Sissy, don't let people such as Julian Gitche influence your decision. Julian needs your thumbs, huge and murmuring like the mouths of unexplored rivers – just the way nature made them – even if he isn't wise enough to understand that he needs them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality-more-than-you-need-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Personal matter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality-more-than-you-need-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fa/tom-robbins-169_personal-matter_whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality_2462555.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether you need the solace of normality more than you need your unique power is a personal matter, which…” — Tom Robbins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Whether you need the solace of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality-more-than-you-need-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/whether-you-need-the-solace-of-normality-more-than-you-need-your/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```