E. E. Cummings

Dare to Be Odd, Design for Truth

To sustain a world that honors strangeness, tether liberty to care. John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty (1859) frames the harm principle: robust freedom up to the point of harm to others. Pair this with intellectual humility—Paul Saffo’s “strong opinions, weakly held” (2008)—so convictions adapt to evidence. Hospitality to difference, as Richard Kearney argues in Strangers, Gods and Monsters (2003), transforms fear into encounter. In practice, this means clear boundaries against harm, transparent accountability, and a standing invitation to revise norms when they exclude. Thus the circle completes: dare to be odd, then design a world where your oddness—and others’—can flourish without doing violence to the commons. [...]

Astonishment as the First Step to Creation

Finally, astonishment matures when shared. Austin Kleon’s Show Your Work! (2014) encourages publishing process, not just polish—turning curiosity into community momentum. Ira Glass’s well-known “taste gap” advice reassures novices that early attempts may lag behind their standards, yet persistence bridges that gap. Thus the loop closes: begin where you are, be astonished, make something, and then let others’ astonishment refine it. In this ongoing exchange, Cummings’ imperative becomes a practice—one that turns the nearness of the world into the next act of creation. [...]

Mistakes Should Be Examined, Learned From, and Discarded - E. E. Cummings

As a poet known for his innovative and unconventional style, Cummings likely embraced experimentation and learning from failures. His perspective aligns with the idea that creativity and personal development thrive when mistakes are embraced instead of feared. [...]

Act As If. We Can, We Can. I'm For You. I'm For Me. — E. E. Cummings

E. E. Cummings was known for his unconventional syntax and playful use of language. This quote exemplifies his minimalist yet profound style, where simple words carry deep messages of empowerment and positivity. [...]

Act as If You Have Faith and Faith Will Be Given to You - E.E. Cummings

Cummings implies that acting as if you have faith can initiate spiritual or psychological growth. Through consistent actions, belief can flourish, and you learn to trust yourself and the process. [...]

Yours Is the Light by Which My Spirit's Born: You Are My Sun, My Moon, and All My Stars — E.E. Cummings

Known for his unconventional and modernist approach to poetry, Cummings often breaks traditional rules of structure and syntax, favoring free expression and emotion. This quote is a simple, yet deeply profound example of how he conveys love in a fresh and poetic manner. [...]

It Takes Courage to Grow Up and Become Who You Really Are - E.E. Cummings

E.E. Cummings, an influential American poet, is known for his unique style and exploration of themes such as individuality, love, and identity, reflecting the complexities of human experience. [...]