Contrariwise: Literary Tattoos Over 600 tattoos from books, poetry, music, and other sources.

11Jul/086

Theodore Isaac Rubin

Submitted by CCSM:

 

Theodore Isaac Rubin tattoo

 

Theodore Isaac Rubin tattoo

"I must learn to love the fool in me - the one who feels too much, talks to much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laught and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool."

- From Love me, love my fool: Thoughts from a psychoanalyst's notebook by Theodore Isaac Rubin

Comments (6) Trackbacks (1)
  1. five stars. this is like a meta-meta-tattoo, a commentary about getting or not-getting tattooed and a "self-commentary" by the tattoo. number 1 reason I don't have a tattoo is simple fear of pain ("the one who feels too much," "gets hurt"); number 2 is that I'm a creature of habit and take few chances ("takes too many chances"); number 3 is fear of the artist's hand slipping (or in this case the artist or myself misspelling a word, "wins sometimes and loses often," "hurts and gets hurt"); number 4 is that I'm a control freak when it comes to controlling my pain levels ("lacks self-control," also see 1 above); number 5 is that I change my mind a lot, loving something (let's say a tattoo design or a lover or an author) one moment and hating it/him/her the next ("loves and hates"); number 6 is that other people are equally capricious ("gets hurt"); number 7 is that I promised ma I wouldn't get one (either way, "promises and breaks promises"); number 8 is that I'm a crybaby ("cries," see 1 & 4 above). Having said all this ("talks too much," and I could keep going), your tattoo has taught me that I need to get a goddamn tattoo (and a psychoanalyst!). Thank you.

  2. That is the most beautiful quote I have ever read. It almost brought me to tears. I understand the sentiments in it exactly. To have that on your body is so lovely. Your tattoo made my day. Thank you.

  3. Nice… I'd jizz on it…

  4. Out of curiosity, what font was used for this? I'm counting the days to my own literary tattoo, and I've been searching for a classy and classic enough type style to do it justice…. this is perfect.

  5. noooow! why the fuuuck!!!??? would u get that shit in the middle of yo white ass skinny ass back!!!??? im so mad at u.. u wanted to make me mad today huh??? or and tomorrow huh?


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