Marcus Aurelius, sometimes called the “philosopher king,” ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 CE. During that time, he wrote down his thoughts and reflections on the challenges of life and leadership. The collection would later be bound and published under the simple title of “Meditations.” The book has been translated and republished countless times, and the wisdom of Aurelius’ words, passed down through the centuries, continues to resonate.   

This line, taken from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1936 essay “The Crack-Up,” is spoken by an unnamed woman who appears near the end of the piece. For most of the essay, Fitzgerald paints a remorseful picture of himself as a man of little consequence, but then a mysterious woman shows up and tells him, “Listen!” She implores Fitzgerald to snap out of it, to see his own agency, and to understand that he can make his life as big or as small as he wants.

Karen E. Quinones Miller’s path to being a journalist, historian, and bestselling author was by no means an easy one. Born and raised in Harlem, she dropped out of school at age 13 and eventually joined the Navy. After five years of service, she found a job as a secretary at “The Philadelphia Daily News.” Then, at age 29, she decided to go back to school. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in journalism and went on to write several books in addition to her investigative reporting work. Her career is a testament to her tenacity, and her belief that “no” was never the final word.