-quote me.

the entirety of my life, i have collected quotes.
be it writing down inside jokes as a child and adolescent, literally keeping a "quote book" in high school, hoarding magazine & newspaper clippings, or accumulating book excerpts, song lyrics, movie lines, and inspiring thoughts...i love them. i remember them. i re-quote them.
it may have to do with my relational approach to living, as i feel it is the sole importance in life.
it may have to do with the subject of communication, of which i feel like is ever-present, never-ceasing.
it may have to do with my total obsession with words, in general, and the extensive vocabulary and beauty of the written/spoken language.

whatever the reason...quotes have the ability to impact me...to encourage me...to inspire me.
and i believe they are significantly important to share; the following is a chronological compilation of just a few of my notable favorites.
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"Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."
– Alexandre Dumas (The Count of Monte Cristo).
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"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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"the earth can shake, the sky come down, the mountains all fall to the ground, but i will fear none of these things. shelter me Lord underneath your wings. dark waters rise and thunder pounds, the wheels of war are going round, and all the walls are crumbling. shelter me Lord underneath your wings. the wind can blow, the rain can pour, the deluge breaks, the tempest roars, but in the storm my spirit sings when you shelter me Lord underneath your wings."
- Selah (Shelter Me).
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"i've been climbing my whole life, and i'm only at the bottom of the mountain…my hands cannot reach it, and my mind can't comprehend it, but my soul is gonna get there one day…"
- Selah (On the Mountain).
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"Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your unfailing love, Oh Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul. The Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge."
- Psalm 94:17-19 and 22.
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"out of the chaos came the promise. the universe rose and applauded, when you commanded the new born sun to rise…into my chaos comes your promise. the new is rising, the old is past on. you are reviving and making all things right…"
- Selah (Hope of the Broken World).
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"Those who believe they believe in God, but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself."
– Madeleine L’Engle.
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"Unless it's mad, passionate, extraordinary love...it is a waste of time. There are too many mediocre things in life. Love should not be one of them."
- anonymous...
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"It is nonsense to believe that you must compromise your beliefs, or water down your convictions in order to love someone, or even just treat them with dignity."
- Rick Warren.
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"Don't love to be loved in return; don't give to receive. Love because Jesus told you to. Love the way He loved.
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"He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and give his life…”"
- anonymous...Mark 10:45.
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"love each other as God loves each one of you, with an intense and particular love...if your heart is full of love, you will speak of love."
- Mother Teresa.
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"the heart in my chest beats wildly as each step brings us closer to you…magnificent one, merciful judge. we rejoice and sing in the favor of our God. omnipotent love, almighty friend. you are always just, you are always good, and your kingdom has no end, magnificent one."
- Selah (Threshold of Glory).
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"tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word, just to rest upon his promise, just to know "Thus saith the Lord"…i'm so glad i learned to trust thee, precious Jesus, savior, friend, and i know that thou art with me--will be with me to the end."
- William J. Kirkpatrick (Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, hymn).

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"I want to be one of those rare Christians whose very presence incites others to also be better Christians."
- A.W. Tozer.