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One Doesn't Generally Look Into Mirrors When One Is Especially Angry; One Has Better Things To Do, Like Pace The Floor Or Throw Things.
-Robin McKinley
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One Doesn't Generally Look

Robin McKinley
...
One Doesn't Generally Look Into Mirrors When One Is Especially Angry; One Has Better Things To Do, Like Pace The Floor Or Throw Things.

Understanding the Quote: "one doesn't generally look into mirrors when one is especially angry; one..."

This quote by Robin McKinley reflects deeply on the theme of mirrors. It connects to the universal human journey of purpose, motivation, and reflection. Often categorized under Mirrors, Looks, Pace, the quote offers insight, emotional clarity, and intellectual inspiration to readers worldwide.

Whether you’re a student exploring new ideas, a leader trying to motivate your team, or someone seeking direction in life — this quote provides value. It resonates because it’s more than words — it’s a bridge between experience and wisdom. It shows how Robin McKinley interprets life's core challenges and triumphs.

Lessons From the Quote

This quote teaches resilience and focus. It reminds readers that no matter where they stand in life, reflection and self-awareness lead to growth. Each word has meaning, and when studied, it becomes clear how impactful thoughtful language can be.

About Robin McKinley

Robin McKinley is celebrated for insightful thoughts on mirrors and looks. Their legacy lives on through writings that guide, comfort, and inspire. Discover more on their profile page.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Reflect on how this quote applies to your current life path.
  • Share the message with someone who needs inspiration.
  • Write your thoughts on this quote in a journal or blog post.
  • Use it as a daily affirmation or reminder.

Closing Thoughts

Quotes like this endure because they capture universal truths. They comfort us in solitude and empower us in groups. Carry this quote forward — live by its wisdom, share its message, and keep its essence alive.

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Topic
Mirrors
Looks
Pace
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...like A Grain Of Sand That Gets Into An Oyster's Shell. What If The Grain Doesn't Want To Become A Pearl? Is It Ever Asked To Climb Out Quietly And Take Up Its Old Position As A Bit Of Ocean Floor?
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Tsornin's Nostrils Showed Red, But His Ears Were As Alert As Ever, And Occasionally He Would Rub His Nose Gently Against The Nape Of Her Neck, Just In Case She Was Momentarily Not Thinking About Him.
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Mathin Said: "it Is Best To Take Your Opponent's Sash. The Kysin Mark Each Blow Dealt, But To Cut Off The Other Rider's Sash Is Best. This You Will Do." "oh," Said Harry. "you May, If You Wish, Unhorse Him First," Mathin Added As An Afterthought. "thanks," Said Harry.
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What Was She To Say? "the Prodigal Has Returned? The Mutineer Wishes To Be Reinstated? The Subordinate, Having Gone To A Great Deal Of Trouble To Prove Her Commander Wrong, Has Come Back And Promises To Be A Good Little Subordinate Hereafter, Or At Least Until Next Time?
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She Laughed At Him Then, Because He Sounded Like A Small Boy, Not Like A Very Large Grown-up Beast With A Voice So Deep It Made The Hair On The Back Of Your Neck Stir When You Heard It. 'but Vegetables Are Good For You,' She Said, And Added Caressingly, 'they Make You Grow Up Big And Strong.' He Smiled, Showing A Great Many Teeth. 'you See Why I Wish To Eat No More Vegetables.
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...and Again She Wished For Sherwood, And The Dappled Roof Of Leaves That Never Weighed Upon Her. She Pulled Her Scarf Closer Around Her And Thought, I Would Rather Live In A Hut In The Woods; A Hut Like The One Of My First Memories, With A Clean-swept Dirt Floor, And A Brown-eyed Boy Watching Me From Behind His Mother's Skirts As I Watched Him From Behind Mine.
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May
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Pudding
Looks
Legs
And If My Choice Is To Sit Graciously In My Best Robes And Accept The Inevitable Or To Bail A Sea With A Bucket, Give Me The Bucket.
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Giving
Choices
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Children
Reading
Adventure
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Military
Thinking
Track
I Said With Perfect Honest, "i Have No Intention Of Trying To Take These Suckers Out By Myself, No.
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Honest
The Story Is Always Better Than Your Ability To Write It.
Writing
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Stories
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Moving
Stories
Paper
But I'm Going To Try To Tell The Truth. Except For The Parts I'm Leav­ing Out, Because There's Still Stuff I'm Just Not Going To Tell You. Get Used To It.
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Stuff
Telling The Truth
My Sheets Had Never Been So Clean As They Had In The Past Few Months. I Hardly Got Them On Again Before Something Else Happened And I Was Feverishly Ripping Them Off And Stuffing Them In The Wash With Double Amounts Of Soap And All The "extra" Buttons Pushed: Extra Wash, Extra Rinse, Extra Water, Extra Spin, Extra Protection Against Things That Go Bump In The Night.
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Water
The Touch Of Evil Poisons By The Idea Of It. Reject The Idea, And You've Rejected The Evil
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Poison
Friends You Will Have Need Of, For In You Two Worlds Meet. There Is No One On Both Sides With You, So You Must Learn To Take Your Own Counsel; And Not To Fear What Is Strange, If You Know It Also To Be True. —luthe
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World
She Poured The Water, Arranged Some Bread Near Enough The Embers To Scorch But Not Catch Fire, And Looked Up At Little John. She Was So Accustomed To His Step, To His Bulk, That It Took A Moment To Notice His Face; And When She Did . . . It Was, She Thought, Rather Like The Moment It Took To Realize One Had Cut One's Finger As One Stared Dumbly At The First Drop Of Blood On The Knife-blade. You Know It Is Going To Hurt Quite A Lot In A Minute.
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Trying
Breathe
Never Assume. Never Make Plans. Keep Doing The Press-ups And Deep Knee Bends: You'll Need All Your Strength And Flexibility When Your Life Suddenly Implodes. Maybe It Won't — Some People Do Lead Enchanted Lives — But Odds Are That It Will. Some Time.
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People
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For Anyone Who Is: Just Keep Writing. Keep Reading. If You Are Meant To Be A Writer, A Storyteller, It'll Work Itself Out. You Just Keep Feeding It Your Energy, And Giving It That Crucial Chance To Work Itself Out. By Reading And Writing.
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I Almost Wish I'd Had The Forethought To Eat A Tree Myself.
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I Smiled. "i Understand Now. But It Doesn't Matter And You Needn't Apologize. They Have Been Very Kind To Me Too. Even If We Did Differ A Little About Suitable Dresses." He Considered Me A Moment, A Mischievous Light Creeping Into His Eyes, And Said: "was That The Dress - That Night You Wouldn't Come Out Of Your Room?" I Grinned And Nodded, And We Both Laughed.
Eye
Night
Light
...there Remained A Strange Formality Between Them, And Her Pleasure In His Presence Felt Too Much Like Missing Him Had Felt During The Last Week.
Missing Him
Too Much
Lasts
...but With The Hours I Sometimes Kept At The Coffeehouse I Had To Have Learned To Take Naps During The Day Or Die, And I Had Learned To Take Naps. Up Until Five Months Ago "something Or Other Or Die" Had Always Seemed Like A Plain Choice In Favor Of The Something Or Other.
Naps
Choices
Favors
I Love You. I Will Love You Till The Stars Crumble, Which Is A Less Idle Threat Than Is Usual To Lovers On Parting.
Stars
Love You
Usual
Everything Was An Adventure, At Night, When You Were Where You Shouldn't Be, Even If It Was Somwhere You Could Go Perfectly Well In Daylight, And It Was Then Only Ordinary.
Adventure
Night
Ordinary
Stay A Little While Longer, And Let Everyone Congratulate You - Including The Ones Who Clearly Don't Want To: In Fact, Especially The Ones Who Clearly Don't Want To. You Don't Have To Say Anything But 'thank You
Congratulations
Say Anything
Want
It Was Too Important A Matter, This Talking To People, And Listening To Them, To Do It Lightly Or Often.
Talking
People
Listening
I Found That The Only Way I Could Control This Sorrow Was Not To Think Of [it] At All, Which Was Almost As Painful As The Loss Itself.
Loss
Thinking
Sorrow
Your Attitude Is Perhaps A Little Unnecessarily Rigorous," Suggested Jack.
Attitude
Littles
The Insides Of Our Own Minds Are The Scariest Things There Are.
Mind
He Laughed, Tried To Make It Into A Cough, Inhaled At Exactly The Wrong Moment, And Then Really Did Cough.
Moments
Laughed
Tiny Fists Can Hurt Quite A Lot When They Hit You In The Face.
Hurt
Fists
Tiny
Can You Trust Me, He Said. Not Will You. Can You. Can I Trust Him? What Do I Have To Lose?
Trust Me
Said
Loses
Betrayal Would Be A Different Sort Of Sick.
Betrayal
Sick
Different
The Great Thing About Fantasy Is That You Can Drag Dreams And Longings And Hopes And Fears And Strivings Out Of Your Subconscious And Call Them 'magic' Or 'dragons' Or 'faeries' And Get To Know Them Better. But Then I Write The Stuff. Obviously I'm Prejudiced.
Dream
Writing
Dragons
With The Knowledge Of Her Aloneness Came A Rush Of Self-declaration: “i Will Not Be Nothing.”
Self
Declaration
What Was New Was The Fact That, Despite My Heart Doing Its Fight-or-flight, Help-we're-prey-and-hey-stupid-that's-a-vampire Number, I Was Glad To See Him. Ridiculous But True. Scary But True.
Stupid
Heart
Fighting
We Kings Do Develop A Certain Ability To Recognize Objects Under Our Noses.
Kings
Noses
Certain
Because She Was A Princess She Had A Pegasus.
Princess
Pegasus
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Food
Anxiety
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