What's a quote that has stuck with you for your whole life?

zinklog@lemmy.fmhy.ml to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 609 points –

I always loved browsing such posts on reddit, so thought I should make one on lemmy too

Edit: Usually these kind of posts only used to have excerpts from books or ancient proverbs, but now I am seeing a lot more quotes from shows/movies/games are also resonating with people. It's pretty cool to see.

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Today is a good day to die

This is meaningful to me because it's a place I must try and be in every day. Leave nothing for chance and understand that I can die at any moment so I must always be one step in front of it.

This is what the white men believe Crazy Horse would say in Lakota as a battle cry. It was probably more like "come on let's go" but it wasn't so much the words but the message behind them. It's a heavy mental mindset that you are ready to die today if that's what happens. It means you have lived with honor and respect. Your family knows your love for them. You have shown your ancestors respect so they will be waiting for you, welcoming you to the other world as a warrior coming home. This is a power place to be, especially if you have to face a life and death situation.

So this is the battle cry

Hokahey! Nake nula wauŋ welo!

Let's do this! I am ready for what comes!

I also enjoy the follow-up, “but the day is not yet over.” (This is a Star Trek reference, but “today is a good day to die” was written into Klingon culture by one of the writers who was a student of Native American history.)

Proud warriors forced to change in order to survive. The Lakota and the Klingons would recognize each other as equals.