Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

"You were born an original work of art. Stay original always. Originals cost more than imitations."

"Beautiful is he who recognizes what is truly beautiful,Even if the surface is ugly. Truthful is he who says what is true,Even if the truth is ugly. Ugly is he who measures beauty by its exterior,Without first weighing the interior. And ugly is the man who judges harshly what he sees looking out,Without first judging what he sees in the mirror. Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun (2010)"

"Beautiful is he who recognizes what is truly beautiful even if the surface is ugly. Truthful is he who says what is true even if the truth is ugly. Ugly is he who measures beauty by its exterior without first weighing the interior. And ugly is the man who judges harshly what he sees looking out without first judging what he sees in the mirror."

"Apathy is the door to ignorance. Empathy is the door to wisdom."

"In Egyptian Arabic, the word 'insan' means 'human'. If we remove the 'n', the word becomes 'insa', which means 'to forget'. So you see, the word 'forget' is taken from the word 'human'. And since it was God who created our minds and hearts, He knew from the very beginning that we would quickly forget our history, only to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. So the ultimate test of every human is to seek wisdom. After all, wisdom is gained from having a good memory. Only after we have passed this test will we evolve to become better humans. Man is only a forgetful mortal, but God — He sees, hears and remembers everything."

"Be music always. Keep changing the keys, tones, pitch, and volume of each of the songs you create along your life's journey and play on."

"Be different. Be original. Nobody will remember a specific flower in a garden filled with thousands of the same yellow flower, but they will remember the one that managed to change its color to purple."

"DON'T SAY, DODo not say things You think I want to hear. Instead,Say what you sincerely mean,And really intend to do. Do not think you are helping me By occasionally Being here or there,If you really have no intention Of holding my hand All the way through. Do not say you care for me,If you do not care Whenever I'm clearly Down and blue. And do not want what's best For you,If you do not wish the best For me too. Do not calculate gifts or deeds Or your giving will never feel Genuinely true. Just say what you mean And mean what you say, And let's lay these down – As our love's Golden rules."

"It is what it is because you let it be so."

"When the heart is beautiful, its light shines though the eyes, vocal tones and actions of its owner."

"Stay true to yourself. An original is worth more than a copy."

"The key to a wonderful life is to never stop wandering into wonder."

"Be yourself because an original is worth more than just a copy."

"Be yourself because an original is always worth more than a copy."

"Transformations are a part of life. We are constantly being changed by things changing around us. Nobody can control that. Nobody can control the environment, the economy, luck, or the moods of others. Compositions change. Positions change. Dispositions change. Experiences change. Opportunities and attitudes change. You will change."

"To know the good from the bad, study a man or woman's history of actions, not their record of intentions."

"When a moral man speaks, listen. But when immoral men speak, toss away their words like bad fruit. Truth will never shine from a heart filled with corruption and lies."

"Any man who neglects his conscience is a dangerous animal."

"No country can police corruption in other countries when it itself is not free from corruption. You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty hands."

"You cannot clean a dirty wall with dirty hands."