SoulPancake / Conversations / What literary tattoo would you get?

Jump into a Conversation about Life's' Big Questions

lauramike

- 3 years ago

Feature
0
Like
Follow

What literary tattoo would you get?

What passage from a book/poem have you read that is so important to you that you would get it tattooed on your body? What meaning does the quotation/word have? Where would you put it? And up for debate- What is more powerful written word or a picture when you are talking about tattoos?

Recent Discussed Liked

First level responses second level responses

"man is not made for defeat". -ernest hemingway

i would get a tattoo of me showing my tattoo

i have been looking for awhile for the right words for a tattoo. Right now i am leaning towards "Within and Without" from my favorite quotation from the Great Gatsby "I was within and without simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." for me this quotation holds great truth of how i feel about life. High as a kite in love with living and everything that comes with it or miserable about what societies values have become (and made me)

“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that any more than for pride or fear.” -William Faulkner As I Lay Dying

I am actually looking to get the quote "Rather than money, than love, that fame, give me truth" from Henry David Thoreau's Walden or Life in the Woods. For me this quote really demonstrates the life I have tried, and am, trying to live. A life that is based on the truth that I have found in God. One that throws off the complexity that our lives try to throw on us, and live simply. It speaks to me like no other quote.

"I'll make you an offer you can't reffuse." Kidding! I have yet to decide on my tatoo.

i'd get words tattooed.. 'resilience' or 'one day at a time' still toying with the idea at this point. maybe i will embellish my stars that i already have with those words.. who knows?!

i'm still looking for one!

Lord, what fools these mortals be.

(Shel Silverstein, "Hug O' War")

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg" target="_blank">http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg

"in watermelon sugar the deeds were done and done again as my life is done in watermelon sugar"

I have a tattoo of a tree with a sparrow in it. The idea comes from the bible... and isn't the bible the top selling literary work of all time?? I did not include any words because images are universal and words are not.

on the back of my neck GRANTED: I AM AN INMATE OF A MENTAL HOSPITAL... Gunter Grass.

This quote from Jack Kerouac means a lot to me: "But then they danced down the street like dingledodies, and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!""

"COVER me over In dusk and dust and dreams. Cover me over And leave me alone. Cover me over, You tireless, great. Hear me and cover me, Bringers of dusk and dust and dreams." Carl Sandburg

Two possibilities for me, both from the pen of Tolkien: "Its a dangerous business leaving your door, if you don't keep your feet about you, there is no telling where the road might lead." or "Not all who wander are lost."

Eh, I don't like literary tattoos. Too obvious. I prefer images that are open to interpretation.

Literary? Hmmm. Does Calvin & Hobbes count? I do have an image selected from my favorite strip. I just need to scrounge up the flow! Other than that, it would probably be something from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. He has opened a portal to another world.

"Timshel" from East of Eden. It totally helped me gain a perspective on life I'd never really thought much about it means "Though Mayest" and has to do with free will. It's a great mantra.

@lauramike milwaukee

Follow Message

More Conversations from lauramike

Supposedly, we are the generation with no place in history. What is our defining struggle? 20 Responses What would you do (or do more) if it was socially acceptable? 20 Responses

Show More ↓

SoulPancake

lauramike

What literary tattoo would you get?

becci1287

"man is not made for defeat". -ernest hemingway

chrismazur

i would get a tattoo of me showing my tattoo

lauramike

applegrass

“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that any more than for pride or fear.” -William Faulkner As I Lay Dying

dr_eww

BluesBrogio

"I'll make you an offer you can't reffuse." Kidding! I have yet to decide on my tatoo.

StarLight

i'd get words tattooed.. 'resilience' or 'one day at a time' still toying with the idea at this point. maybe i will embellish my stars that i already have with those words.. who knows?!

playgirlc

i'm still looking for one!

KaryAnn

Lord, what fools these mortals be.

bluemcniel

(Shel Silverstein, "Hug O' War")

bluemcniel

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg" target="_blank">http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg

glassgalaxy

"in watermelon sugar the deeds were done and done again as my life is done in watermelon sugar"

emilystew

I have a tattoo of a tree with a sparrow in it. The idea comes from the bible... and isn't the bible the top selling literary work of all time?? I did not include any words because images are universal and words are not.

Kajlito

on the back of my neck GRANTED: I AM AN INMATE OF A MENTAL HOSPITAL... Gunter Grass.

zamfir

mamaval

"COVER me over In dusk and dust and dreams. Cover me over And leave me alone. Cover me over, You tireless, great. Hear me and cover me, Bringers of dusk and dust and dreams." Carl Sandburg

Pastor

Two possibilities for me, both from the pen of Tolkien: "Its a dangerous business leaving your door, if you don't keep your feet about you, there is no telling where the road might lead." or "Not all who wander are lost."

Phuquer

Eh, I don't like literary tattoos. Too obvious. I prefer images that are open to interpretation.

livingthedream

Literary? Hmmm. Does Calvin & Hobbes count? I do have an image selected from my favorite strip. I just need to scrounge up the flow! Other than that, it would probably be something from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. He has opened a portal to another world.

kdmask

"Timshel" from East of Eden. It totally helped me gain a perspective on life I'd never really thought much about it means "Though Mayest" and has to do with free will. It's a great mantra.

What literary tattoo would you get?

"man is not made for defeat". -ernest hemingway

i would get a tattoo of me showing my tattoo

“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like the others: just a shape to fill a lack; that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that any more than for pride or fear.” -William Faulkner As I Lay Dying

"I'll make you an offer you can't reffuse." Kidding! I have yet to decide on my tatoo.

i'd get words tattooed.. 'resilience' or 'one day at a time' still toying with the idea at this point. maybe i will embellish my stars that i already have with those words.. who knows?!

i'm still looking for one!

Lord, what fools these mortals be.

(Shel Silverstein, "Hug O' War")

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg" target="_blank">http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g293/bluemcniel/sumsitup.jpg

"in watermelon sugar the deeds were done and done again as my life is done in watermelon sugar"

I have a tattoo of a tree with a sparrow in it. The idea comes from the bible... and isn't the bible the top selling literary work of all time?? I did not include any words because images are universal and words are not.

on the back of my neck GRANTED: I AM AN INMATE OF A MENTAL HOSPITAL... Gunter Grass.

"COVER me over In dusk and dust and dreams. Cover me over And leave me alone. Cover me over, You tireless, great. Hear me and cover me, Bringers of dusk and dust and dreams." Carl Sandburg

Two possibilities for me, both from the pen of Tolkien: "Its a dangerous business leaving your door, if you don't keep your feet about you, there is no telling where the road might lead." or "Not all who wander are lost."

Eh, I don't like literary tattoos. Too obvious. I prefer images that are open to interpretation.

Literary? Hmmm. Does Calvin & Hobbes count? I do have an image selected from my favorite strip. I just need to scrounge up the flow! Other than that, it would probably be something from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. He has opened a portal to another world.

"Timshel" from East of Eden. It totally helped me gain a perspective on life I'd never really thought much about it means "Though Mayest" and has to do with free will. It's a great mantra.

What's Next?