Isak Dinesen is the pen name of Danish author Karen Blixen, best known for her 1937 memoir “Out of Africa,” a recounting of her years in Kenya that was later adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. This quote comes from her short story “The Deluge at Norderney,” part of her 1934 collection “Seven Gothic Tales,” which earned her international literary acclaim. In this line, Dinesen illuminates the healing power of physical and emotional release. Whether through effort (sweat), emotion (tears), or nature (the sea), she suggests salt water has the ability to cleanse, restore, and renew. The message is both poetic and practical — a reminder that physical exertion, emotional release, and/or simply immersing ourselves in the natural world can bring comfort and clarity to our lives.

Maya Angelou rose to prominence with the publication of her first autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” in 1969. She went on to write six more bestselling memoirs in a career that also included poetry, plays, screenplays, directing, and acting. The quote above does not come from her extensive writing, however, but rather from a 1973 interview with Bill Moyers. When asked what price she had paid for the freedom to pursue such a varied and illustrious career, Angelou replied, “You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great.” This idea challenges the notion that belonging is found in a specific location or group — or even an identity. Forging a sense of belonging in the “everywhere” is difficult, but it can allow us to experience true freedom.