The world has recently lost two immensely talented figures, one so tragically by suicide, one dying at a ripe old age.
Both were able to reach deep into the heart of the human condition, using wit and humor with compassion and grace.
In her own words, Lauren Bacall:
“Find me a man who's interesting enough to have dinner with and I'll be happy.”
“I am not a has-been. I am a will be.”
“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”
“I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that.”
“You realize yourself when you start reflecting–because I don’t live in the past, although your past is so much a part of what you are–that you can’t ignore it. But I don’t look at scrapbooks.”
“You can’t always be a leading lady.”
“I'd like to meet the man who decided that people do or don't look Jewish. What the hell does that mean anyway? Is it the American penchant for pinning things down, categorizing, for pigeonholing people? Whatever it is, it's wrong.”
In his own words, Robin Williams:
"My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings. And a favorite book as a child? Growing up, it was 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' — I would read the whole C.S. Lewis series out loud to my kids. I was once reading to Zelda, and she said 'don't do any voices. Just read it as yourself.' So I did, I just read it straight, and she said 'that's better.'"
"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
"Do you think God gets stoned? I think so ... look at the platypus."
"When in doubt, go for the dick joke."
On his mentor, Jonathan Winters: "Jonathan taught me that the world is open for play, that everything and everybody is mockable, in a wonderful way."
"I love kids, but they are a tough audience."
“You'll always have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren't paying attention to.” – Robin Williams as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting
“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change this world. –Dead Poets Society
May they rest in peace and continue to inspire us by making us laugh.