A painting is more than the sum of its parts,’ he would tell me, and then go on to explain how the cow by itself is just a cow, and the meadow by itself is just grass and flowers, and the sun peeking through the trees is just a beam of light, but put them all together and you’ve got magic.
Sometimes a little discomfort in the beginning can save a whole lot of pain down the road.
You can’t dwell on what might have been…and it’s not fair to condemn him for something he hasn’t done.
…Next time you’re faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.
The room fell quiet. And as I read down the list of over one hundred and fifty eight-grade boys, I realized that to me, there had only ever been one boy.
It’s easy to look back and see it, and it’s easy to give the advice. But the sad fact is, most people don’t look beneath the surface until it’s too late.
Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss….” He turned to me. “But every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.
What I’m expecting is for you to behave like the gentleman I always thought you were.