Quote of the Day: After losing his son and wife, John Travolta's powerful life lesson — 'I can look at the darkness, but I don't choose to die in that darkness'

Although he is one of Hollywood’s most beloved icons, with an illustrious career spanning more than five decades, Johnny Travolta’s personal life has been marred by tragedies. The ‘Hairspray’ star, who lost his son Jett Travolta in 2009, and his beloved wife- actress Kelly Preston to breast cancer in 2020, recently opened up on how he coped with such devastating losses.

In an interview with the Italian magazine La Repubblica, the actor explained that he tries to be optimistic even in the face of debilitating tragedies.

Quote Of The Day By John Travolta

“I'm not made to remain absorbed in the darkness," Travolta said. "I can look at the darkness, but I don't choose to die in that darkness."

Deeper Meaning Of The Quote

Travolta’s quote urges people not to dwell on their losses, but to try and move on. Pain and loss are inevitable realities of life and we cannot escape them however much we try. Like Travolta, we can and should mourn, but refuse to be defined or consumed by losses. Above all, the quote assures people that there is hope to be found even when the going gets tough.

Relevance Of The John Travolta Quote

The quote’s appeal is universal because we will always be devastated by loss of loved ones or professional setbacks. The quote acknowledges that while we cannot be ‘safe’ from pain or trauma that comes from loss, we always have the ability to move on and heal. The message here is that we all have the ability to be resilient - to rise above even when life seems be conspiring to keep us down and become our best selves.

A Hollywood icon, Travolta has been a sought-after leading man since the 1970s. He has appeared in many timeless classics such as Pulp Fiction, Savages, Hairspray, The Punisher etc. He is the recipient of many accolades such as three Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award etc.

Born in New Jersey, he was born in a family with Italian and Irish roots. He grabbed the audience’s attention as the bully Billy Nolan in the 1976 horror classic Carrie. The sitcom Welcome Back Kotter made him more mainstream.

He became a household name with the dance drama Saturday Night fever and the musical Grease. Saturday Night Fever gained him a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor at just 24.

The 80s, saw a career decline, but he managed to rebound in the ‘90s and delivered hits such as Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Face/Off etc.