Amor Fati
This belongs to Heather Reizner.
My tattoo was done by Zack Stuka at Deluxe Tattoo in Chicago.
Amor fati is a Latin phrase that loosely translates to "love of fate" or "love of one's fate". It is used to describe an attitude in which one sees everything that happens in one's life, including suffering and loss, as good. That is, one feels that everything that happens is destiny's way of reaching its ultimate purpose, and so should be considered good. Moreover, it is characterized by an acceptance of the events that occur in one's life.
The phrase is used repeatedly in Nietzsche's writings
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"I want to learn more and more to see as beautiful what is necessary in things; then I shall be one of those who make things beautiful. Amor fati: let that be my love henceforth! I do not want to wage war against what is ugly. I do not want to accuse; I do not even want to accuse those who accuse. Looking away shall be my only negation. And all in all and on the whole: some day I wish to be only a Yes-sayer."
This belongs to Ron.
I have been reading Nietzsche for years, studying his ideas on self-overcoming and self-transformation. That's why my amor fati tattoo is something that means a lot to me. It represents an outlook on life that certainly does not come easy. Point of fact, it is just as much a personal goal as it is a declaration of my world view.
From Wikipedia:
Amor fati is a Latin phrase coined by Nietzsche loosely translating to "love of fate" or "love of one's fate". It is used to describe an attitude in which one sees everything that happens in one's life, including suffering and loss, as good. Moreover, it is characterized by an acceptance of the events or situations that occur in one's life.
walk without rhythm
This is Rachel's tattoo.
"Walk without rhythm" is a reference to Dune
by Frank Herbert.
On the desert planet Arrakis any type of rhythmic vibration in the deep desert will attract an immense sandworm which will destroy ie engulf anything it finds (person, spice mine, space ship) in an effort to protect its territory. The desert Fremen have developed a way to walk without any discernible rhythm, only calling the sandworms to them with 'thumpers' when they choose.
Dune is my favorite novel, hence the desire for a Dune tattoo, but choosing a quotation was too hard so I referenced the Fremen, who play a central role in the story arc.
Gatsby believed in the green light
This is Starr's tattoo from the last lines of The Great Gatsby
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And then one fine morning—
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
destroyed but not defeated
This is Jarrod's tattoo.
The quote is from The Old Man & The Sea
by Ernest Hemingway. It is part of Santiago's line, "'But man is not made for defeat,' he said. 'A man can be destroyed but not defeated.'" He says that shortly after the first shark attack. I read that story when I was in the 9th grade. That quote always stuck with me, and has more or less been my motto in life ever since. And, considering I'm now a high school English teacher myself, having a tattoo of my favorite quote from my favorite book by my favorite author seemed somewhat appropriate.
rage, rage
This is Kira's tattoo from "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas.
This tattoo serves as a reminder against apathy and indifference towards suffering and death--experiences I never want to fall into complacency with.
Lullaby
Two Lullaby
This belongs to Paige.
Ever since I read my first Chuck Palahniuk book, I was a fan. Lullaby
This one belongs to Brittany Rucklos.
So it goes #48, 49, 50
This is Mike's tattoo.
I decided to get "So it goes." while I was attending college and Kurt Vonnegut passed away. It took several years, but I finally had it done by Tim at Black Thorn Gallery in Mechanicsburg, PA this past summer. The meaning behind it, that you can either let things that happen in life weigh on you or you can just roll with the punches really resonates with me.
This belongs to katielouise.
This is Antonia's tattoo.
These are my bluebirds, done by Mimsy Trailer Trash Tattoo, Australia. I got So It Goes for the same reason many of your submitters did - it is a simple statement, but resonates on many different levels... & Slaughterhouse Five was the first book my husband ever read to me, so holds an extra special meaning to me!
This was posted as a part of “So it Goes” Saturdays. The phrase “so it goes” appears in Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five 106 times. Can you help me collect 106 “so it goes” tattoos? 50 down, 56 to go.
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