EVERY BUMPER STICKER PHRASE HAS A STORY

Do you think you really know what these 10 bumper sticker phrases mean?

Image: Ian Schneider

Motivational and common-use phrases have been embedded in the fabric of our lives forever and social media has done nothing but increase their already ubiquitous presence just about everywhere. And, as everything that is infinitely repeated, they end up losing their original meaning and sense. The following well-known phrases and quotes have deep meanings that we will attempt to uncover. So, stick around and see if one of these bumper sticker phrases means something different than you think it does!

Image: Marc Pell

Let us start by getting out of the way one of the most ubiquitous motivational phrases in the world. "Keep calm and carry on" was coined in 1939 as a wartime slogan intended to boost the morale of the British people during World War II. But the now famous phrase was never made public then, with a very small number of originals being printed.

It wasn’t until a copy was discovered in a bookshop in Northumberland in 2000, and reproductions of it began to be sold a year later, that its fame was established. Nowadays, it is used to sell everything from mugs to flight bags and baby clothes.

Image: Yosuke Ota

Another extremely well-known phrase, used and overused in millions of mugs, prints, notebooks, and whatnot, is "eat, pray, love." The popular slogan was created by author Elizabeth Gilbert as the name of her novel about a journey of self-discovery after a failed marriage.

The phrase encompasses the three activities that helped the author navigate through the life-period described in the book and it has since been used as a mantra of sorts, for its motivational value.

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A favorite of travelers from all over the world, the phrase "not all those who wander are lost" was penned by J.R.R. Tolkien, for his timeless classic, The Lord of the Rings. The line is from the poem "All That Glitters Is Not Gold", which is the riddle of the Strider, or Aragorn.

The quote means just because someone likes to explore and wander, not just physically, spiritually, and mentally, that doesn’t mean they’re lost. It also conveys how people who lose their way can still bounce back in life.

Image: Kin Shing Lai

Coco Chanel was famous for creating a style and becoming an icon herself. But she didn’t do this by following the same path women delving into fashion were supposed to follow in the early 1900s. Instead, she made her own thing and found massive success.

Her phrase "in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different" is especially meaningful in light of her life story and expresses a highly practical idea: if no one possesses your skills, then you cannot be replaced by anyone.

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Just by seeing the highly intimidating blackboards covered in mathematical figures the man used to face, we can be assured that Albert Einstein was no stranger to facing difficulties.

He knew that necessity is the mother of invention and was able to gain knowledge through infinite trials and errors.

The phrase attributed to him, "In the middle of every difficulty lies an opportunity" expresses that same concept in simple words that convey to each one of us to look for the gain in every challenge that presents itself to us.

Image: David Köhler

We have probably all heard this one. The phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day" is used to refer to a great task or achievement that takes time and effort.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was this phrase's history. The earliest known record of the phrase is in a collection of French poems, Li Proverbe au Vilain, that was published before the 1200s.

Image: David Ballew

The poetically charged phrase "Every cloud has a silver lining" can be traced directly from a piece written in 1634 by English poet John Milton called "Comus: A Mask Presented at Ludlow Castle". In it, Milton spoke of a silver lining of brightness behind a gloomy cloud, and soon afterward ‘Milton’s clouds’ became a staple of English Literature.

The phrase’s meaning is that every bad thing brings along some good, and it eventually came into being and common use in the 1800’s, in Victorian England.

Image: Khadeeja Yasser

Another one of those phrases seen embroidered on a pillow, or on a Hallmark postcard, is "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". This sweet quote came originally from the Roman poet Sextus Propertius' Elegies, "Always toward absent lovers love's tide stronger flows", which was converted into the modern variant we know today in 1832,' in The Pocket Magazine of Classic and Polite Literature. The phrase means that the lack of something increases the desire for it.

Image: Denisse Diego

The earliest iteration of the phrase, dating back to 1866 states: "Eat an apple on going to bed, And you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread". The meaning of this phrase is quite straightforward: if you eat your vegetables, your body will thank you.

Image: Mick Haupt

This quote by Mahatma Gandhi suggests that love is a force that sustains and nurtures life itself. The idea here is that love, in all its forms, is a fundamental ingredient of life. It is the fuel that moves it forward, and the anchor that grounds it in troubled times. Without love, life would lose much of its meaning and color.

Depends on who you ask

Which was better, the movie or the book?

Image: Houses Cheung

While some cases are more obvious than others, the answer is usually not so clear. Taste is subjective, and there will always be a defiant voice claiming that the book was better—or the other way around. The following 12 examples of books adapted into movies range from the obvious to the worthy to the sublime—but not necessarily in that order.

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Peter Benchley’s novel includes more details, subplots, and less action than Steven Spielberg’s film. Granted, there would never have been a Jaws movie without the book first, but the movie version—along with its unforgettable, suspenseful score by John Williams—is generally the preferred one.

Image: Ben Rosett

Mario Puzo, the author of The Godfather, once said he wrote the book without thinking much of it, hoping to make some quick cash to pay off debts. However, when Francis Ford Coppola adapted it into a film, the story was shifted to focus on the relationship between Vito and Michael Corleone. The resulting movie has been acclaimed as a masterpiece ever since.

Image: Marc-Antoine Déry

Originally a technically dense Tom Clancy novel about a rogue Soviet captain, The Hunt for Red October, directed by John McTiernan, became a nerve-wracking film starring a magnetic Sean Connery in the lead role. It’s a great read, but arguably an even better movie.

Image: Clem Onojeghuo

Anyone who has read Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange knows how tiresome it can be to constantly look up the made-up words in the included glossary. The book is compelling, and the story is strong, but it became something entirely different when Stanley Kubrick got hold of it. The addition of classical music to violent scenes, Malcolm McDowell’s performance as Little Alex, and the retro-futuristic setting created a visual experience that arguably surpassed the novel.

Image: Thomas Lefebvre

No one can deny that Tom Wolfe is an exquisite writer, and The Bonfire of the Vanities is a fine example of his talent. However, when the novel was adapted into a 1980s yuppie film, the result was mediocre at best. The shift in the story’s focus, combined with poor casting decisions, led to a critically panned adaptation.

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Nick Hornby wrote a great, insightful novel about a music-obsessed man who breaks up with his girlfriend and confronts a midlife crisis. Director Stephen Frears managed to create an arguably even more compelling film, aided by a brilliant cast spearheaded by an inspired John Cusack in what is perhaps his best performance.

Image: Madeleine Kohler

As great as it is, the Trainspotting book can be a challenging read, particularly for non-Scottish readers, as the novel is heavily written in Scottish vernacular that can be difficult to follow. Danny Boyle’s film adaptation doesn’t face that hurdle. It features phenomenal casting, a memorable soundtrack, and gripping storytelling that makes the gritty material more accessible to a wider audience.

Image: Loren Cutler

Sometimes, a great book can translate into a pretty good movie—and for many, Interview with the Vampire is one of those cases. Anne Rice’s novel about sophisticated, introspective vampires was adapted into a star-studded film featuring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, and more. While the movie may not be considered a masterpiece, it remains an atmospheric and entertaining film, perfect for a moody Friday night.

Image: Ruthson Zimmerman

Bret Easton Ellis’ books can be intense, and American Psycho is no exception. The lengthy, gory descriptions of violence found in the novel are largely absent from the film, which helps to emphasize the darkly comedic nature of the story. Christian Bale’s outstanding performance as Patrick Bateman only adds to the movie’s impact.

Image: Redd Francisco

Before becoming the cult favorite movie it is today, Fight Club was a novel written by Chuck Palahniuk. While the book is a decent read, the film version is where the story shows its true potential, aided in no small part by the performances of Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.

Image: D A V I D S O N L U N A

An amazing book can translate into an amazing movie—or three. This is certainly true of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and its film adaptation directed by Peter Jackson. From the moment the production was announced, legions of rabid Tolkien fans were ready to tear it apart. However, as the three installments were released, many of those fans became Peter Jackson fans as well. While the book is often considered superior, the movies are masterpieces in their own right.

Image: Hasan Almasi

Stephen King is known as a master of horror, but some of his non-horror stories are just as fascinating. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption was originally published as part of Different Seasons, a collection of novellas that also includes Apt Pupil. However, it was Frank Darabont’s film, The Shawshank Redemption, that best captured the essence of the story. The Morgan Freeman-narrated tale of a convicted prisoner, his friendship, and his reluctance to lose hope, coupled with a brilliant soundtrack by Thomas Newman, created a true cinematic masterpiece.