There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow or else pay more for remaining the same.
Norman Mailer The Deer Park
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In Norman Mailer's "The Deer Park," the author explores the harsh reality of personal growth and the consequences of stagnation. The quote underscores a fundamental truth about life: individuals are compelled to evolve, or they risk experiencing greater difficulties by staying stagnant. This perspective highlights the importance of embracing change, as failure to do so can lead to a more challenging existence.

The idea of having to "grow or pay more" serves as a reminder that the natural course of life includes challenges and transformations. Those who resist change may find themselves facing greater struggles, suggesting that evolution is not just a choice, but a necessary aspect of living a fulfilling life. This theme resonates throughout Mailer's work, emphasizing the complexities of human existence and the inevitability of change.

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The Deer Park
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Norman Mailer
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Other quotes in The Deer Park

There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow old or else pay more for remaining the same.
Norman Mailer The Deer Park
There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow old or else pay more for remaining the same.
Where, in what cemetery of the heavens, did the tender words of lovers rest when they loved no longer?
Norman Mailer The Deer Park
Where, in what cemetery of the heavens, did the tender words of lovers rest when they loved no longer?
There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow or else pay more for remaining the same.
Norman Mailer The Deer Park
There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow or else pay more for remaining the same.
The essence of spirit, he thought to himself, was to choose the thing which did not better one's position but made it more perilous. That was why the world he knew was poor, for it insisted morality and caution were identical.
Norman Mailer The Deer Park
The essence of spirit, he thought to himself, was to choose the thing which did not better one's position but made it more perilous. That was why the world he knew was poor, for it insisted morality and caution were identical.
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Jim Butcher Grave Peril
I don't have anything against God. Far from it. But I don't understand Him. And I don't trust a lot of the people that go around claiming that they're working in His best interests.
Now that you're an adult, you might still feel a pang of guilt when you decline a dinner invitation in favor of a good book. Or maybe you like to eat alone in restaurants and could do without the pitying looks from fellow diners. Or you're told that you're "in your head too much," a phrase that's often deployed against the quiet and cerebral. Of course, there's another word for such people: thinkers.
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Now that you're an adult, you might still feel a pang of guilt when you decline a dinner invitation in favor of a good book. Or maybe you like to eat alone in restaurants and could do without the pitying looks from fellow diners. Or you're told that you're "in your head too much," a phrase that's often deployed against the quiet and cerebral. Of course, there's another word for such people: thinkers.
I found Esau's field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau's neat hand.
Maria V. Snyder Magic Study
I found Esau's field guide at the bottom of my pack. Taking a candle into the bedroom, I read his book until my eyes grew heavy. From his vast notes, it seemed that almost every plant and tree in the jungle had a reason for existing. I caught myself wishing there was a page in his guide that had my picture on it with the reason for my existence written underneath in Esau's neat hand.
Here's a nifty solution: Each couple that marries should take on an entirely new surname, chosen however they want as long as both agree to it, so that a day after the wedding, both husband and wife can hold hands and joyfully journey off to the municipal offices to change their passports, driver's licenses, signatures, initials, bank accounts, etc.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Dear Ijeawele, or A...
Here's a nifty solution: Each couple that marries should take on an entirely new surname, chosen however they want as long as both agree to it, so that a day after the wedding, both husband and wife can hold hands and joyfully journey off to the municipal offices to change their passports, driver's licenses, signatures, initials, bank accounts, etc.
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