“…the world is really one big bee yard, and the same rules work fine in both places: Don't be afraid, as no life-loving bee wants to sting you. Still, don't be an idiot; wear long sleeves and long pants. Don't swat. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, whistle. Anger agitates, while whistling melts a bee's temper. Act like you know what you're doing, even if you don't. Above all, send the bees love. Every little thing wants to be loved.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are some more of my favorite quotes from The Secret Life of Bees... read if you would like to.
"I feel I'm where I'm supposed to be. I really do. I just need time to figure out why."
"... there is love all around you."
"Don't ever be afraid, we are enough."
“There is nothing perfect,” August said from the doorway. “There is only life.”
Later, Lily finally begins to consider forgiving her mother. The next morning, Lily and August head to work on the bees. Because one hive is missing its queen, they must get it a new one. August reveals that she was hoping Our Lady would stand in for Lily's mother, just as Lily had imagined she would. August then explains the nature of Our Lady, how she is a presence in every part of the world and not an actual being in heaven. She explains that Lily must find a mother inside herself, and she should not expect an outside force to mother her. August explains that the mother acts as a power inside of her, one that she can rely on when she is feeling weak or alone, sad or tired. Lily appreciates this sentiment and takes it to heart. It comes in useful almost immediately.
"You think too much. It would do you a world of good to stop thinking and just go with your feelings once in a blue moon."
"Is it the wounded places down inside people that seek each other out, that breed a kind of love between them?"
"... something everybody wants is for someone to see the hurt done to them and set it down like it matters."
"... when it's time to die, die, and when it's time to live, live. Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out, like you're not afraid (of dying)."
"Bee hum... It was the oldest sound there was. Souls flying away."
"There's a fullness of time for things... You have to know when to prod and when to be quiet, when to let things take their course."
"... you can't talk yourself out of anger. Either you are angry or you're not."
Lily Owens: [to T. Ray] "My whole life has been nothing but a hole, where my mother should have been. It always left me aching, but I never thought about what it did to you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Lily Owens: If your favorite color is blue, why did you paint the house pink?
August Boatwright: [chuckles] That was May's doing. When we went to the paint shop, she latched on to colo called, "Caribbean Pink." She said it made her feel like dancing a Spanish Flamenco. I personally thought it was the tackiest color I had ever seen, but I figured if it could lift May's heart, it was good enough to live in.
Lily Owens: That was awfully nice of you.
August Boatwright: Well, I don't know. Some things in life, like the color of a house, don't really matter. But lifting someone's heart? Now, that matters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
"Don't ever be afraid, we are enough."
“There is nothing perfect,” August said from the doorway. “There is only life.”
Later, Lily finally begins to consider forgiving her mother. The next morning, Lily and August head to work on the bees. Because one hive is missing its queen, they must get it a new one. August reveals that she was hoping Our Lady would stand in for Lily's mother, just as Lily had imagined she would. August then explains the nature of Our Lady, how she is a presence in every part of the world and not an actual being in heaven. She explains that Lily must find a mother inside herself, and she should not expect an outside force to mother her. August explains that the mother acts as a power inside of her, one that she can rely on when she is feeling weak or alone, sad or tired. Lily appreciates this sentiment and takes it to heart. It comes in useful almost immediately.
"You think too much. It would do you a world of good to stop thinking and just go with your feelings once in a blue moon."
"Is it the wounded places down inside people that seek each other out, that breed a kind of love between them?"
"... something everybody wants is for someone to see the hurt done to them and set it down like it matters."
"... when it's time to die, die, and when it's time to live, live. Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out, like you're not afraid (of dying)."
"Bee hum... It was the oldest sound there was. Souls flying away."
"There's a fullness of time for things... You have to know when to prod and when to be quiet, when to let things take their course."
"... you can't talk yourself out of anger. Either you are angry or you're not."
Lily Owens: [to T. Ray] "My whole life has been nothing but a hole, where my mother should have been. It always left me aching, but I never thought about what it did to you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Lily Owens: If your favorite color is blue, why did you paint the house pink?
August Boatwright: [chuckles] That was May's doing. When we went to the paint shop, she latched on to colo called, "Caribbean Pink." She said it made her feel like dancing a Spanish Flamenco. I personally thought it was the tackiest color I had ever seen, but I figured if it could lift May's heart, it was good enough to live in.
Lily Owens: That was awfully nice of you.
August Boatwright: Well, I don't know. Some things in life, like the color of a house, don't really matter. But lifting someone's heart? Now, that matters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, I encourage you to.
If you have, How did this movie or book touch you?
love all the secret life of bees!
ReplyDeletebut most importantly I love you!!
have a happy day
love Tia
Thanks for this. I saw the movie again, for the 20th or so time, this weekend and it still moves me to tears. Beautiful story. Lily’s admission “"My whole life has been nothing but a hole, where my mother should have been. It always left me aching. . .” summed up my life as well until, at 28, I met my mother for the first time. So much of this story resonates with me. Thanks again and take care!
ReplyDeletewho said "... when it's time to die, die, and when it's time to live, live. Don't sort-of-maybe live, but live like you're going all out, like you're not afraid (of dying)." ???
ReplyDeletemay.
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