10 Times Kurt Vonnegut Gave The Best Advice You'll Ever Need
Start writing a post
Entertainment

10 Times Kurt Vonnegut Gave The Best Advice You'll Ever Need

Although Vonnegut has shared years and years worth of life advice, here are ten times he hit it spot on.

180
10 Times Kurt Vonnegut Gave The Best Advice You'll Ever Need

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was an American author who gave the world 50 years of amazing words. Vonnegut published fourteen novels, three short story collections, five plays, and five works of non-fiction. Although Vonnegut has shared years and years worth of life advice, here are ten times he hit it spot on.


1." Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. "

2. " So it goes. "
Three words Vonnegut uses throughout his classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five which remain notable not for the wording as much as the emotion - and dismissal of emotion. The three words which show a small sign of acceptance, as well as dismissal. Vonnegut was able to pack a way of life into three words, telling the world that things happen but it's also okay .. we deal with it because we have to.

3." We must be careful about what we pretend to be. "
In Vonnegut's novel Mother Night, the iconic line " We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be " was written. Many interpretations are able to be made about this line but when it comes down to it really relates to the "be careful what you wish for" quote one grows up hearing.
"Sure, it sounds harmless enough when you're five years old and pretending to be an astronaut, but when you start pretending to be a Nazi propagandist...needless to say things could get a little dicey."

4." All persons, living and dead, are purely coincidental. "

5." That is my principal objection to life, I think: It's too easy, when alive, to make perfectly horrible mistakes. "

6." If you can do no good, at least do no harm. "

7." I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all the kinds of things you can't see from the center. "
Take risks. Try new things. Do something you normally wouldn't do because that could be your new favorite thing in life. You'll never know until you try.

8."Go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something. "

9." We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down. "

10." Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone."
Vonnegut's last novel, Timequake, asks the questions - "Why bother?". Many times people will believe that the few people around them are the only ones out there .. but there are so many people in the world that in fact could be feeling the same way. Don't be down on yourself about a certain feeling you may be experiencing, you aren't alone.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

86875
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

52867
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments