William Bateson Quotes

Most of us cluster somewhere in the middle of most statistical distributions. But there are lots of bell curves, and pretty much everyone is on a tail of at least one of them. We may collect strange memorabilia or read esoteric books, hold unusual religious beliefs or wear odd-sized shoes, suffer rare diseases or enjoy obscure movies.

I am one of those who are made for exceptions, not for laws.

There is always something particularly delightful about exceptions to a rule.

There are no norms. All people are exceptions to a rule that doesn’t exist.

The things that stand out are often the oddities.

The average is that which no person quite ever is.

My mantra is 'stay perpendicular.' Horizontal is not as good.

You can pick almost any field, and there's going to be weird people.

There are some people who fit into categories very well. But then there are a lot who don't.

Everyone should just be exactly who they are.

I am the only one in my family to get into acting.

I think the people get that I'm just kind of an anomaly in a certain way.

Own your differences and don't always try to fit in. The more unique you are, the more you stand out.

My mom is not typical in any way.

I feel like no one plays the game to be normal, average. Or I don't.

You should do what other people do, unless you have a very good reason not to.

In my case, I am always that odd candidate that doesn't look like everybody else.

In so complex a thing as human nature, we must consider it is hard to find rules without exception.

If you have a child who is seven feet tall, you don't cut off his head or his legs. You buy him a bigger bed and hope he plays basketball.

I am different. Let this not upset you

Being different is good; embrace it.

Treasure this day and Treasure yourself, truly, neither will ever happen again.

Find ways to embrace the things that make you unique, and you'll unlock the ways you can make a difference in the world.

As a young child, being different is isolating, and as a teenager it's humiliating. I wish I had been able to stand out with more confidence when I was a child, and especially when I was a teenager. I was different, but it wasn't always a conscious choice, and it often made me miserable. But I'm all grown up now, and so are you. Today, difference is your strength, your power, and your trademark. It's your signature. It can still be difficult to be different--sometimes even harder than it used to be. Even so, it's time to embrace being yourself. It's time to be authentic.

Never follow the crowd. Go where it's empty.