The hot search keywords in recent days are definitely not other than “Emily in Paris“, which includes eye-catching fashion outfits, romantic and magnificent Parisian scenery, and highly attractive actors. Every detail in the series has become a topic of discussion for girls after tea. Although “Emily in Paris” is labeled as a “fashion series”, its content is more than just about fashion. Upon careful consideration, you will find that many lines can make you reflect on life, work, love, and values. The following 10 quotes from “Emily in Paris” allow you to revisit this popular series from different perspectives.
“You can never escape life. Never.”
「你永遠無法逃離現實。永遠。」
2020 is a year that makes people “want to leave this world,” but the cruel reality is that you can’t. Instead of trying to escape reality and blaming others, it’s better to maintain a positive attitude and face this harsh and cruel reality world head-on!
“I’ve spent my entire life wanting to be liked.”
「我花了一輩子的時間想讓別人喜歡我。」
“That’s a miserable goal.”
「那真是個可悲的目標。」
Many people have probably experienced or are currently experiencing the foolish and wholehearted effort to please someone, all in the hopes of making them like you. However, life belongs to oneself, and there are no second chances. Spending time on things you enjoy, living more for yourself, is the wise decision.
“Perfume is like in life, one has to balance the sweet with… the stinky.”
（香水是生活的寫照，甜膩只可以苦澀來平衡。）
Life is not always smooth sailing, how can it be smooth all the way? After tasting a bit of sweetness, occasionally you still have to taste bitterness. Encountering some difficulties or annoying things is like a mixture of sweet and bitter taste, just accept it with a calm heart.
“Ignorance makes you arrogant.”
「無知讓人自大。」
More and more people take pride in not knowing or recognizing someone or something, always liking to post comments on social media such as “I don’t know who this singer is” or “I have no idea what’s going on” to escape reality. Living in their own world, enjoying the sense of tranquility brought by their echo chamber, this ignorance-induced arrogance is disgusting.
“Fearless is starting something from zero, marking something that’s all your own.”
「大膽是從零做起，創造出一個完全屬於自己的東西。」
The bigger the burden, the more difficult it is to deal with things and be a person, and it is easy to be timid and stagnant. Not daring to try this, not daring to challenge that, life is so long, try to let go, dare to touch some unknown areas, and create something new!
“Desire does not mean lack of respect. In fact, quite the opposite.”
「慾望不等於不尊重，事實正好相反。」
In the series, client Antoine was questioned by Emily for wanting the model to appear nude in a perfume ad, accusing him of objectifying and discriminating against women. However, Antoine believes that respect for women is what generates such desire. This situation is indeed difficult to determine right from wrong, as it is a matter of different perspectives and angles. Whose viewpoint do you think is closer to what you believe in your heart?
“The vagina is not male!”
「陰道並不屬於男性！」
The French translation of “陰道” is “le vagin,” a term with masculine attributes. When Emily learned about this in the drama, she found it unreasonable and expressed her disagreement on social media, even drawing a response from the “First Lady of France.” In this day and age, we advocate for “bodily autonomy” and “self-love for women,” of course, our bodies should be controlled by ourselves!
“You live to work, we work to live.”
「你是為工作而活，我們是為生活而工作。」
This statement highlights the differences in work culture between Americans and the French. For most Americans, the meaning of life is work, while the French only see work as a part of life. On the other hand, Hong Kong people are often criticized for being “too servile,” working day and night to make ends meet, sacrificing personal time and life. It seems like achieving “work-life balance” like the French is a distant goal, but at least we should strive to balance and not lose ourselves!
“I don’t want 100% of anyone, and I don’t want anyone to have 100% of me.”
「我不想百分百地擁有一個人，也不想任何人擁有百分百的我。」
Everyone is an individual, even if you are in a relationship with someone, it does not mean you can completely possess the other person. Please remember not to let the other person completely possess you. It is definitely not worth it or rational to completely lose yourself for someone else.
“Everything is ‘pas possible!’ It’s the French motto.”
「一切都有可能！這是法國人的座右銘。」
There are endless possibilities in everything, so never try to suppress them! Instead of overthinking and only focusing on the worst outcome, it’s better to take the first step, give it a try, and see what happens!
