James Dean was this super cool actor from the 50’s who appeared in some rad movies like Rebel without a cause, Giant, and General Electric Theater with Ronald Regan who was also heck dope. Along with being cool enough for Taylor Swift to write a song about him, he had some super inspiring quotes. Now to understand these quotes you actually need to be a rad person so lucky for you I’m going to explain what Mr. Dean was really trying to say.
Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.
Okay, this one is pretty simple, live your life like there is no tomorrow. Stressing about that test tomorrow… don’t worry about it man you’ll probably drop dead today anyways! Have work in an hour? Take a nap instead and keep dreaming because that is what really matters!
Only the gentle are ever really strong.
This is like the turtle beating the hare. It isn't until you hold a tiny little puppy that you realize how strong those tiny little pups are. Seriously, this 3-pound ball of fur has managed to capture your entire heart without even trying.
If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he's dead, then maybe he was a great man.
This is obviously talking about men like Caesar who have been immortalized with things such as Little Caesar’s. Basically, if you think you’re a great man and yet fail to have your name on a piece of food, then you’re delusional.
The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results.
Yah dude, don’t be happy that you failed a test you studied more than 24 hours for. Be happy that you were able to spend so much of your valuable time and learning. Sometimes there is no hope of passing even when you pour your blood, sweat, and tears into something.
I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed.
Mr. Dean is clearly telling you to go outside. I don’t care what it is you do in the beautiful world, just get your butt outside and go enjoy the wonders that nature holds. Also Mr. Dean is telling you that spiders are evil and to avoid them at all costs. Trust me, I’m majoring in James Dean studies.
There is no way to be truly great in this world. We are all impaled on the crook of conditioning.
This is pretty cool. It’s telling you that you're a lump of coal and will never be as a great as he is. He’s also telling you to stop being a crook before you get thrown in jail. Obviously.
Alright, that's it. Disclaimer: I am not majoring in James Dean studies and everything I wrote in this article is sarcastic, and so help me if you get annoying and send hate mail I will be even more sarcastic.
