Everything you need to know ...
It all seemed to start with "Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten", and it all took off from there. Suddenly, everyone and their cousin was writing a book of collected wisdom that they had learned on how to deal with life, and the collective curveballs it has been known to throw. Well, I have my own -- and although I could string words together and throw them at your eyes; I'll choose instead to use the mouthpiece of Pop Culture.
The iconic character of Susan Ivanova, as portrayed by the incredibly talented Claudia Christian, has the joy to deliver some of the best lines in television. Russian, Jewish, Female - all powerful statements. To be given a strong sense of self to counter her postion as Lt. Commander of the Babylon 5 space station is just; to have been given a wry and droll sense of humor is justice. Let me share with you some choice nuggets of wisdom extracted from across the shows best seasons. (We generally don't speak of Season 5 - for reasons that won't mean anything if you haven't seen it, and won't need to be spoken of at all if you have.)
Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned from Ivanova ::
Try to give people what they want.
Captain Sheridan: Are you trying to cheer me up?
Ivanova: No sir, wouldn't dream of it.
Captain Sheridan: Good, I hate being cheered up.
Ivanova: In that case we're all going to die slow, agonizing deaths.
Captain John Sheridan: Thank you, I feel so much better now.
Corrolary:: But don't let them walk all over you.
Ivanova: Don't. You're too young to experience that much pain.
Try to be optimistic.
Ivanova: No boom today... boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.
Corrolary:: But realize the truth of the situation as well.
Ivanova: [last words] From the stars we came and to the stars we return, from now until the end of time. We therefore commit this body to the deep.
Dr. Franklin: It's all so brief, isn't it? Typical human lifespan is almost a hundred years, but it's barely a second compared to what's out there. It wouldn't be so bad if life didn't take so long to figure out. Seems you just start to get it right and then - it's over.
Ivanova: Doesn't matter. If we lived 200 years we'd still be human, we'd still make the same mistakes.
Dr. Franklin: You're a pessimist.
Ivanova: I'm Russian, doctor. We understand these things.
Try to find joy in what you do.
Ivanova: No traffic. No complaints. No Noise. Traitors, troublemakers, and ambassadors all tucked snugly in their little beds. I love this time of night.
Corrolary:: But don't forget to take your limits into account for what you are going to be called upon to do.
Ivanova: It's just that I've always had trouble waking up when it is dark outside.
Commander Sinclair: Commander, we're on a space station. It is always dark outside.
Ivanova: [morosely] I know... I know...
Warn someone if you see them about to do something stupid.
Ivanova: [to a Drazi ship threatening the station] Vakar Ashok, our gun arrays are now fixed on your ship. They will fire the instant you come into range. You will find their power most impressive - for a few seconds.
Corrolary:: Don't be afraid to let them know you were right if you've warned someone against doing something stupid and they went and did it anyway.
Ivanova: Confirmed Survey 1. Upon arrival you will report for debriefing. And just one more thing, on your trip back I want you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 mantra: Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again [shouts] Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out! Babylon control out.
Be observant of what is going on around you.
Ivanova: Worst case of testosterone poisoning I have ever seen.
Try to use your deductive reasoning to figure out why things happen.
Ivanova: I can only conclude that I'm paying off karma at a vastly accelerated rate.
Know your place in the scheme of things.
Ivanova: Mr. Garibaldi, you're sitting at my station, using my equipment. Is there a reason for this, or to save time should I just snap your hand off at the wrist?
Let your friends know that you care about them.
Ivanova: May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.
Corrolary:: Don't back down from defending those persons or things that you hold dear.
Ivanova: Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova, Commander. Daughter of Andre and Sophie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance and the boot that is going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart! I am death incarnate, and the last living thing that you will ever see. God sent me.
And there you have it, in a nutshell. You can take what is given here and apply it to nearly every aspect of you life. Live closely by these principles, and you really can't go wrong.
Tioraidh!
The iconic character of Susan Ivanova, as portrayed by the incredibly talented Claudia Christian, has the joy to deliver some of the best lines in television. Russian, Jewish, Female - all powerful statements. To be given a strong sense of self to counter her postion as Lt. Commander of the Babylon 5 space station is just; to have been given a wry and droll sense of humor is justice. Let me share with you some choice nuggets of wisdom extracted from across the shows best seasons. (We generally don't speak of Season 5 - for reasons that won't mean anything if you haven't seen it, and won't need to be spoken of at all if you have.)
Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned from Ivanova ::
Try to give people what they want.
Captain Sheridan: Are you trying to cheer me up?
Ivanova: No sir, wouldn't dream of it.
Captain Sheridan: Good, I hate being cheered up.
Ivanova: In that case we're all going to die slow, agonizing deaths.
Captain John Sheridan: Thank you, I feel so much better now.
Corrolary:: But don't let them walk all over you.
Ivanova: Don't. You're too young to experience that much pain.
Try to be optimistic.
Ivanova: No boom today... boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow.
Corrolary:: But realize the truth of the situation as well.
Ivanova: [last words] From the stars we came and to the stars we return, from now until the end of time. We therefore commit this body to the deep.
Dr. Franklin: It's all so brief, isn't it? Typical human lifespan is almost a hundred years, but it's barely a second compared to what's out there. It wouldn't be so bad if life didn't take so long to figure out. Seems you just start to get it right and then - it's over.
Ivanova: Doesn't matter. If we lived 200 years we'd still be human, we'd still make the same mistakes.
Dr. Franklin: You're a pessimist.
Ivanova: I'm Russian, doctor. We understand these things.
Try to find joy in what you do.
Ivanova: No traffic. No complaints. No Noise. Traitors, troublemakers, and ambassadors all tucked snugly in their little beds. I love this time of night.
Corrolary:: But don't forget to take your limits into account for what you are going to be called upon to do.
Ivanova: It's just that I've always had trouble waking up when it is dark outside.
Commander Sinclair: Commander, we're on a space station. It is always dark outside.
Ivanova: [morosely] I know... I know...
Warn someone if you see them about to do something stupid.
Ivanova: [to a Drazi ship threatening the station] Vakar Ashok, our gun arrays are now fixed on your ship. They will fire the instant you come into range. You will find their power most impressive - for a few seconds.
Corrolary:: Don't be afraid to let them know you were right if you've warned someone against doing something stupid and they went and did it anyway.
Ivanova: Confirmed Survey 1. Upon arrival you will report for debriefing. And just one more thing, on your trip back I want you to take the time to learn the Babylon 5 mantra: Ivanova is always right. I will listen to Ivanova. I will not ignore Ivanova's recommendations. Ivanova is God. And if this ever happens again [shouts] Ivanova will personally rip your lungs out! Babylon control out.
Be observant of what is going on around you.
Ivanova: Worst case of testosterone poisoning I have ever seen.
Try to use your deductive reasoning to figure out why things happen.
Ivanova: I can only conclude that I'm paying off karma at a vastly accelerated rate.
Know your place in the scheme of things.
Ivanova: Mr. Garibaldi, you're sitting at my station, using my equipment. Is there a reason for this, or to save time should I just snap your hand off at the wrist?
Let your friends know that you care about them.
Ivanova: May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.
Corrolary:: Don't back down from defending those persons or things that you hold dear.
Ivanova: Who am I? I am Susan Ivanova, Commander. Daughter of Andre and Sophie Ivanov. I am the right hand of vengeance and the boot that is going to kick your sorry ass all the way back to Earth, sweetheart! I am death incarnate, and the last living thing that you will ever see. God sent me.
And there you have it, in a nutshell. You can take what is given here and apply it to nearly every aspect of you life. Live closely by these principles, and you really can't go wrong.
Tioraidh!