Tuesdays With Morrie Aphorisms
By: Olivia Vladyka
“Accept what you are able to do and what you are
not able to do.” (p. 18)
• This quote has taught me to stay
true to what I am. I won’t
struggle to be someone I can
never be, I will put my effort into
what I am capable of. For
example, I am not very athletic so
accept that I won’t be on a sports
team, but I do well in school so I
try to excel in my classes.
Everyone has their own unique
abilities that determine their
potential. I will never be a track
star but I could get A’s on my
report card.
“Accept the past as past, without denying it or
discarding it.” (pg. 18)
• No one can live in the past. I
learned that we have to learn from
the past to keep from repeating it,
but don’t dwell on it. No one can
move forward in life if they live in
the past. The only way to live
without regrets is to accept the
past and work to make a better
future.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give
out love, and to let it come in.”(p. 52)
• Love is the most important part
of life. People should believe
more in love than money or
power. I learned through the
book that I need to accept love
and also love others. Love can
provide support in the most
difficult of times, just like it did
for Morrie. I want to surround
myself with people who would be
my support system.
“Sometimes you can’t believe what you see; you
have to believe what you feel.” (p. 61)
• In some situations, you have to
believe in feelings instead of what
you see. For example, Morrie says
to believe in love over objects.
Emotions are more important
than gifts and purchases. I believe
that feeling loved and cared for is
more important than being rich. I
value my friends and family more
than I value my clothes or my
phone.
“Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
(pg. 82)
• Accepting death leads to a
meaningful life. People cannot
spend their lives worrying about
how they will die. Everyone dies
eventually; people should live
everyday like it’s their last to
have a valuable and happy life. I
don’t want to spend my life
worrying about how I will die, I
understand that I will so I can live
a more meaningful life.
“Don’t cling to things, because everything is
impermanent.” (p. 103)
• I always stress about things that
won’t last forever. Everything,
relationships, where you live,
where you go to school, and even
your life; they are all temporary.
Don’t rely on one situation too
long; it is bound to change.
Nothing will last forever.
“Love each other or perish.” (p. 149)
• Love is the only thing rational in
the world. After death the only
way to stay “alive” is through
loving and happy memories. This
quote taught me that while life
may end, memories will live
forever in people that I’ve met.
Love can keep a person alive long
after they are dead.
“Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.”
(p. 162)
• The novel discusses the idea that
after a certain point life is not
worth living. This quote taught
me to live as long and happily as I
can, but when my quality of life
has significantly dropped it is
time to let go. Unconsciously
breathing through a vent is not a
life worth living. The quote does
not mean that people should not
grow old, but rather people
should be able to determine the
quality of life they want to live.
“Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive
others.” (p. 164)
• Forgiving others will help you to
move on from the past. For
example, if someone I was
fighting with died I would never
have a chance to forgive them.
People also need to forgive
themselves, they cannot go
through life regretting what
happened in the past. Forgiving
makes peace with yourself and
others.
“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” (p. 174)
• The memory of those close to us
is kept alive through love. Some
of my relatives have died, but that
doesn’t mean I no longer love
them. Love goes on forever.
Charlotte will still love Morrie
after he is dead. Love is eternal
even though life is not.