“The only way to get rid of an emotion is to yield to it,” wrote Oscar Wilde. Page 2 of Emotion explores what happens after that yielding—how feelings move through us, teach us, and sometimes spill over. From Ayn Rand’s call to understand the source of our emotions to Alanis Morissette and Michael Keaton speaking of sensitivity and honesty, these quotations honor the messy, powerful ways our hearts respond to the world.

“A rational man knows, or makes it a point to discover, the source of his emotions, the basic premises from which they come.” ~ Ayn Rand

“Emotions kick up. You try not to kick things up, but you go through things you can’t help.” ~ Tom Cruise

“The degree of one’s emotion varies inversely with one’s knowledge of the facts: the less you know, the hotter you get.” ~ Bertrand Russell

“If someone hates or loves something, then right on. I can’t rob them of that. I’m not going to try and change their mind. Something’s been triggered in them to react so emotionally.” ~ Alanis Morissette

“I’m a really sensitive person. I cry if I miss a cab. I’ve always worn my emotions on my sleeve. I think it makes life so much better when you can talk about anything.” ~ Michael Keaton

“You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion. The heart comes before the head.” ~ John C. Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

“Ninety percent of our lives is governed by emotion.” ~ Alfred North Whitehead

“Negative emotions tend to narrow our attention, speed up the decision process, and lead to impulsive actions.” ~ Stephen Robbins, Decide & Conquer

“Emotional turmoil can be a powerful catalyst to reconnect us with our divine nature. It propels us into a journey of self discovery and urges us to learn how to love and accept our entire being.” ~ Debbie Ford, Spiritual Divorce

“I’m compelled and dedicated to transmitting emotions and I care for very little else.” ~ Sidney Nolan, Writers on Artists

“Emotions have taught mankind to reason.” ~ Marquis de Vauvenargues

“A friend is somebody who loves us with understanding, as well as emotion.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

“A life spent chasing other people’s approval is a life spent on a pointless roller coaster of emotional highs and lows, without ever knowing yourself.” ~ Rinatta Paries