I explained that most great works of the imagination were meant to make you feel like a stranger in your own home. The best fiction always forced us to question what we took for granted. It questioned traditions and expectations when they seemed too immutable. I told my students I wanted them in their readings to consider in what ways these works unsettled them, made them a little uneasy, made them look around and consider the world, like Alice in Wonderland, through different eyes.
Azar Nafisi in Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003)
Submitted by Simona Enache
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Won't You Come Home (And Talk To A Stranger)
Well I was out a drinkin' with a couple of friends of mine
When the bartender handed me the telephone
Said there's a wife on the line
I told her I was just a drinkin' with a couple of buddies I knew
but she told me in a few short words
Just what she wanted me to do
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
You might even make yourself a friend
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
It's the only place in days you haven't been
Well I sat there about an hour talkin' with the rest of the guys
When she walked through that front door
She had get home in her eyes
She said you've danced and talked with every woman in town but me
And if you'd just come around the house you might like my company
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
You might even make yourself a friend
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
It's the only place in days you haven't been
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
You might even make yourself a friend
She said won't you come home and talk to a stranger
It's the only place in days you haven't been
song performed by by George Strait
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Won't You Come Home
Well i was out a drinkin'
With a couple of friends of mine
When the bartender handed me the telephone
Says "there's a wife on the line."
I told her i was just a drinkin'
With a couple of buddies i knew
She told me in a few short words
Just a what she wanted me to do
She said "oh won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
Cause you might even make yourself a friend."
She said "won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
It's the only place in days you haven't been."
Well i sat there about an hour
Talkin' with the rest of the guys
When she walked through that front door
She had "get home" in her eyes
She said "you've danced and talked
With every woman in town but me.
And if you'd just come around the house
You might like my company."
She said "oh won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
Cause you might even make yourself a friend."
She said "won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
It's the only place in days you haven't been."
She said "oh won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
Cause you might even make yourself a friend."
She said "won't you come home and talk to a stranger.
It's the only place in days you haven't been.
song performed by by George Strait
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Sun, You!
I should explained that my face was burned for a sun
I should explained that my eyes was failing for a sun
I should explained that my back was scarred for a sun
I shpuld explained that my body was festered for a sun
I should explained that my leg was paralyzed for a sun
I should explained that my heart was broken pieces for a sun
Then...
I should explain that the sun is you! !
That you made my face burned of missing you every single minutes
That you made my eyes failed of being freak to love you
That you made my body festered of being hurt hoping you
That you made my leg paralyzed of being tired cathching you in dream
That you made my heart broken pieces of keeping this love seed!
You! ......You! .......You! ........You!
poem by Dian Hayati
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Philosophy And Faculty
I have my philosophy and you've learnt from it under a faculty,
And today you have a Degree awarded to you because of the works of my philosophy.
Who is then ready to award me of my works as aphilosopher?
But sincere greetings and thanks to all teachers around the world;
For today i am what i am and my students know my status,
But who will award me of all my researched works?
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
1963
It was january, 1963
When johnny came home with a gift for me
He said I bought it for you because I love you
And I bought it for you because its your birthday, too
He was so very nice, he was so very kind
To think of me at this point in time
I used to think of him, he used think of me
He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw tears were in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me
Oh, god, johnny, dont point that gun at me
Theres so many ways our lives have changed
But please, I beg, dont do this to me
Johnny, dont point that gun at me
Can I save my life at any price?
For gods sake wont you listen to me?
And though he was ashamed that he had took a life
Johnny came home with another wife
And he often remembered how it used to be
Before that special occasion, 1963
There was too many ways that you could kill someone
Like in a love affair, when the love is gone
He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
He never meant to hurt me
Oh, god, johnny, dont point that gun at me
Theres so many ways our lives have changed
But please, I beg, dont do this to me
Johnny, you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh, johnny, wont you listen to me?
He told me to close my eyes
My gift would be a great surprise
I saw hatred in his eyes
But he never meant to hurt me
Oh, god, johnny, dont point that gun at me
Theres so many ways our lives have changed
But please, I beg, dont do this to me
Johnny, you keep on using me
Can I change my life for any price?
Oh, johnny, wont you listen to me?
I just want you to be mine,
I dont want this world to shine
I dont want this bridge to burn
Oh, johnny, do you miss me?
I just want to feel for you
I will always feel for you...
song performed by by New Order
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Way The World Works
the world works with trageties and happieness to bad the children don't know it or care for it but that one incodent can change a childs life the world works in a mist of war ad peace death and life the world works with everyone this is how it works our world moves from one shooting to a bombing what is going on with our people why must we act like dip shyts over nothing without war we have peace and without peace we have war but our world runs off both if you understand what is going on in the world can someone please tell our president he has no idea about how the world works to him it all war death and money
poem by Ian Singer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Great Expectations
Youre sittin in your seat
And then you stand and clutch your breast
Our music drives you wild along with the rest
You watch me singing this song
You see what my mouth can do
And you wish you were the one I was doing it to
And you watch me playin guitar
And you feel what my fingers can do
And you wish you were the one I was doing it to
Well, listen
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations
Youre dying to be seen
And you wave and call my name
But in the day it seems that Im a million miles away
You watch me beatin my drum
And you know what my hands can do
And you wish you were the one I was doing it to
Well, listen
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations
Then you feels these eyes from the stage
And you see me staring at you
And you hear between the lines, my voice is calling to you
Well, listen
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations, do you want to play the role
Youve got great expectations, youd even sell me your soul
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations
Youve got great expectations, do you want to play the role
Youve got great expectations, youd even sell me your soul
Youve got great expectations, as long as you can play the role
Youve got great expectations
song performed by by Kiss
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
She Works Hard For The Money
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
Onetta there in the corner stand
and wonders where she is and
it's strange to her
some people seem to have everything
Nine a.m. on the hour hand
and she's waiting for the bell
and she's looking real pretty
just wait for her clientele
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
Twenty five years have
come and gone
and she' seen a lot of tears
of the ones who come in
they really seem to need her there
It's a sacrifice working day to day
for little money just tips for pay
But it's worth it all
just to hear them say that they care
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
She already knows
she's seen her bad times
she already knows
these are the good times
She'll never sell out
she never will
not for a dollar bill
she works hard
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
She works hard for the money
so hard for it honey
she works hard for the money
so you better treat her right
song performed by by Donna Summer from The Donna Summer Anthology
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Tooth Decay
It's all busted.
With expectations so cheap.
Lies and deceit.
Let the fiction reap.
Oh reap what she can.
For in this world of the damned
When you make a demand, it is questioned and counter questioned.
As if your never right.
As if you have absolutely no insight.
Try as you might.
You just won't be able to fix her tonight.
No not tonight.
She ugly, she unfortunate, and of her your so blissful.
It is as if she don't exist.
A marker on a map.
A designation area for the collapse.
The poverty level is just to low here.
The perfect spot.
Let the experimentation begin.
Let it spread and rot.
Like your grams a teeth.
One by one the areas are gone.
And as human being it is not fault but our own.
poem by Ace Of Black Hearts
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Great Expectations
Written by dennis deyoung
Lead vocals by dennis deyoung
Everybody will be watching
Just to see what can you do
Theyll be waiting, anticipating
For the genius to come through
So raise the bar up
A little higher
They expect so much of you
Feel the madness accelerating
Cause you feel the same way too
Great, great, great expectations
Everybodys masturbating
Wondering what youre gonna do
And all the doctors are contemplating
Can the smart ass still pull through
Mister big shot
With all the answers
One more time through the hoop for you
Light a fire
To the whole thing
Feel the flame as you go through
Great, great, great expectations
Did you think that your ambition
Would ever end up in remission
Did ya
Now did ya
Did you think your sacrifices
Would turn your dreams into your vices
Now did ya
How could ya
All the cynics & the ciphers
Make you question what you do
So turn your amp up a little louder
To drown out that void in you
While the mantra keeps repeating
There are dreams you must pursue
If you just try a little harder
There aint nothing you cant do
Great, great, great expectations
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
O...what...?
women are
works...
with over the world...
very heary hard...
men also works...
but womens works many...
in house...
in office....
in others...
all wys womens
works...
over then men...
with vey hard works...
but...
money earn
men will bee high
women will bee low...
what is this...?
poem by Otteri Selvakumar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Burn You Up, Burn You Down
Straight as an arrow
Carry our intentions through the wind
Dogs all around you
But your gonna get the message to your friend
Up at the rendevous, you keep on looking around
Nighttime in the city and the rain keeps falling down
(Bridge)
Let me tell you how it all works out
Never thought we had so much time to lose
Just learning how to twist and shout
Doesn't matter much which damn beat you use
(Repeat)
Heaven knows the road to go
How many times we've told you so
(Chorus)
Burn you up, and I'll burn you down
Burn you up, and I'll burn you down
(End Chorus)
No rhyme or reason
No way to make it easy 'till it's done
(Chorus)
So you cross onto the other side of the street
You should know better than to keep turning up the heat
(Bridge)
Oh-oh-ai-ai
(hey hey hey hey)
Make me feel this
(hey hey hey hey)
Hey-ey Hey Hey
(hey hey hey hey)
Make me feel it
(hey hey hey hey)
When they lose you, it can bruise you
(Chorus)
Break me open, I need someone to see me
(Chorus)
Make me feel it, make me feel
In the city and the rain is falling down
(Chorus)
You can make it happen, with your eyes, with your eyes alone
(Chorus)
(Bridge)
Break me open
(Let me tell you how it all works out)
(Never thought we had so much time to lose)
Make me feel it
(Just learning how to twist and shout)
(Doesn't matter much which damn beat you use)
Break me open
(Let me tell you how it all works out)
(Never thought we had so much time to lose)
Make me feel it
(You make me feel it)
(Just learning how to twist and shout)
(Doesn't matter much which damn beat you use)
You can make me feel it
You can make me, you can make me, you can make me feel it
You can make me feel it
You can make me feel it
You can make me feel it...
song performed by by Peter Gabriel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
He who works for sweetness and light, works to make reason and the will of God prevail. He who works for machinery, he who works for hatred, works only for confusion. Culture looks beyond machinery, culture hates hatred; culture has one great passion, the passion for sweetness and light.
quote by Matthew Arnold
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
Vote! | Copy!
One Of Us
(we didnt write this song, but listen)
If God had a name, what would it be
And would we call it 2 his face
If we were faced with him and all his glory?
What would u ask if u had just one question?
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Chorus:
What if God was one of us?
Just a slave like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin 2 make his way home
If God had a face, what would it look like
And would u wanna see it
If seeing meant that u would have 2 believe in things like heaven
And jesus and the saints and all the prophets?
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Chorus
Yeah
Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
What if God was one of us?
Just a slob (slave) like one of us?
Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin 2 make his way home
Like a holy rollin stone
Back up 2 heaven all alone
Nobody callin on the phone
cept 4 the pope maybe in rome
But he aint home, he aint home, he aint home!
No, no, no, he aint home! {x2}
Oh yeah, oh!
(what if God was one us? ) {x4}
song performed by by Prince
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
The Magic Of His Designs
The magic of His designs
all around us we see,
the working of His divine skill
nature continually displays
and in mysterious ways
His unending love
works selflessly
falling for evermore
like showers from above
and even if we do not want to admit
that He exists and judge His works
by our own feeble sense
make statements by our science
we still do err in incompetence
while His works persist,
His amazing grace and love stays boundless.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Wasted Works
For years I sat at my desk,
writing words no one wanted to hear.
Wasted works of love,
with each page overflowing
with sunshine and pain.
They made a lovely bonfire,
to keep me warm when winter came.
The flames licked at every word,
that my pen had written.
When fire was finished
I dug a hole, and put the ashes in.
Finally covering them with earth,
buried those wasted works within.
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
No Respect Of Persons
I am talking to you as you are reading my lines,
For, you are now without a defence;
And, Yahweh's Kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.
Your reward is according to your works,
My reward is according to my works,
Our rewards are according to our works;
But, on one hand, being persistence in doing righteous!
For, there is no respect of persons with Yahweh.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sperm
'What on Earth are you doing? '
I'm trying to get inside.
But I don't want to offend anyone.
'Just be direct.
You will be more effective.
You'll be fine.'
I was told that when I came,
To be dropped off.
'Stay firm, Sperm.
That's all I've got to say.
Eventually you will figure it out.
God works in mysterious ways.'
Tell me about it!
That's all I heard...
Before the screeching came to a halt.
And I was dropped off here!
I didn't ask for this.
To climax my existence.
Or know what or who...
I'll eventually meet.
When inside I'm there to greet.
'Like I said...
God works in mysterious ways! '
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Who Made Who
The video game says play me
Face it on a level but it takes you every time on a one on one
Feeling running down your spine
Nothing gonna save your one last dime cause it owns you
Through and through
The databank knows my number
Says I gotta pay cause I made the grade last year
Feel it when I turn the screw
Kicks you round the world, there aint a thing that it cant do
Do to you
Chorus:
Who made who, who made you?
Who made who, aint nobody told you?
Who made who, who made you?
If you made them and they made you
Who picked up the bill, and who made who? (or who picked up the glue,...)(? )
Who made who, who turned the screw?
Satellites send me picture
Get it in the eye,
Take it to the world (take it to the wire)
Spinning like a dynamo
Feel it going round and round
Running out of chips, you got no line in an 8-bit town
So dont look down, no
Chorus
Aint nobody told you, who made who?
song performed by by AC-DC
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
I had a teacher in art school who said something about the only works he really enjoyed seeing or found much in were works where he had a sense that a discovery was made in the course of making this object. I like to hold to that as my marching orders.
quote by Martin Mull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!