Ocean Vuong

And when they get together, you realize there's actually a lot of common ground when people have been pushed to the center. I wanted to write a book where the people who were pushed to the absolute fringes of society get to occupy the center and the camera would just not pan away. I did not want a plot that solved them. I did not want anyone to get a better job. to have a better home.

And when they get together, you realize there's actually a lot of common ground when people have been pushed to the center. I wanted to write a book where the people who were pushed to the absolute fringes of society get to occupy the center and the camera would just not pan away. I did not want a plot that solved them. I did not want anyone to get a better job. to have a better home.

There's no improvement. It's just life and it's kindness without hope, which is kindness at the highest cost. And yet we all know people every day who are kind and gracious and good to each other despite all of that. Kindness without any hope of return. That's just something I'm so fascinated in.

There's no improvement. It's just life and it's kindness without hope, which is kindness at the highest cost. And yet we all know people every day who are kind and gracious and good to each other despite all of that. Kindness without any hope of return. That's just something I'm so fascinated in.

There's no improvement. It's just life and it's kindness without hope, which is kindness at the highest cost. And yet we all know people every day who are kind and gracious and good to each other despite all of that. Kindness without any hope of return. That's just something I'm so fascinated in.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

Well, in a sense, you know, the idea of YOLO, you only live once, has been really destructive to our world. You know, corporations think they only have one life to harvest. the most profit out of the environment and therefore harm the environment. You know, we're told again and again, no regrets, just seize the day. And it's very self-centered in a way.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

But I think another way to think about you only live once is what if you only have one chance to live with care? consideration, a sense of obligation to each other. And it's not even like this, you know, goodie, woo-woo selflessness, but it actually makes your life much better when you live with the obligation that you owe each other everything.

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

both strangers and family and your environment and your community. And so I wanted to just change the meaning of YOLO. And as a poet, I love that one phrase could have double meaning. You can approach it that if you only have one life, what if you didn't just grab everything you can in the candy store, leaving it a total catastrophe in your wake?

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

But what if you did it so that other people can also inhabit that space and you can improve it? And, you know, our culture often thinks that's silly, that's childish, right? It's too wholesome and earnest. But I think earnestness is an incredible, courageous thing. I respect it immensely in the people I meet and the students I have. If you're earnest and sincere...

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.

It's the most greatest truth because it means that you're willing to risk vulnerability and ridicule. You're willing to be wrong and come off silly because you believe in everything. I think it's okay to believe in everything. It's okay to believe that. If you have this one life, you should try to make it better for other people. Children just have that. It's not a question to them.