The Hiltons, A Family Dynasty

In the end, what matters is the relationships we would have had: with ourselves and others, especially family members.

Every father could be nicer to his children. Because every child looks for love and approval from her/his father in one way or another.

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.”

“Hilton began to understand that a staff of contented employees usually resulted in a thriving business.”

“Find your own particular talent; Be big; Be honest; Live with enthusiasm; Don’t let your possessions possess you; Don’t worry about your problems; Look up to people when you can–down to no one; Don’t cling to the past; Assume your full share of responsibility in the world and, finally, Pray consistently and constantly.”

“We have so much correspondence from him to people saying, ‘You helped me when times were tough, now I would like to help you. Would you like a job? Or would you like to buy stock in the company? What can I do to repay you for helping me?'”

“Because he had so stubbornly refused to default on his many bills, he found his reputation greatly enhanced among creditors and future backers.”

“He would find a way, especially when there seemed to be no way.”

“The essence of Communism is the death of the individual and the burial of his remains in a collective mass.”

“Sometimes it would be nice if he would just see the best in me, instead of the worst”

“The secret of her long marriage, was ‘I accept him for who he is, and he does the same for me.'”

“Personality and character are important. It’s not just the deal that matters, it’s the people in it. In fact, the best of deals fall apart because the people in them have a deficit of character.”

‘The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry–Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms, 1929

The Hiltons: The True Story of an American Dynasty by J. Randy Taraborrelli

Psychology of The Eldest Child

‘Empire’ Star Trai Byers On Andre’s ‘New Path’ With Jennifer Hudson And Rhonda’s Betrayal

Andre’s anger has been building throughout the season. As the eldest and most qualified son, he thought he was a shoo-in for becoming Lucious’ successor in the company, but when it became clear his father had a different vision for Empire, he started to break down. Many “Empire” fans didn’t realize how serious Andre’s bipolar disorder was until that harrowing scene in the recording studio when Andre held a gun up to his head — and pulled the trigger.

That beautifully tragic moment was a collaboration between Byers and co-creator Danny Strong, who wrote and directed the episode. Up until that scene, Byers said Andre’s character was still under question. “Is he the guy that we love to hate or do we just hate him?” he said.

“The moment it really sunk in for me is when we shot the scene in the studio and I had the gun to my head,” Byers added. “I asked Danny [Strong] — because they don’t let you do this kind of stuff on primetime television — if Andre could pull the trigger. I needed to pull that trigger; we needed to show that Andre was way past his limits. And given what was happening with his disorder and his family and feeling left out, he needed to not be a coward about this and pull that trigger. And Danny went with it with me, and thank god Fox allowed it, because it really helped set up Andre’s breakdown.”

Byers also credits his co-star Henson for inspiring him to push his boundaries and go outside of his comfort zone. “It’s because of her and her fearlessness that we collectively feel the freedom to be fearless as well, and that certainly played a role in the elevator scene,” he said.

The elevator scene was yet another example of how powerful “Empire” can be when it hits the brakes every once in a while. The heartbreaking moment found three Lyon boys trapped in a elevator together and lead to one of the season’s most memorable moments.

“In order for me to pay homage to Andre and really do justice to him, I disassociated myself from them that day,” Byers told MTV News of filming that particular scene. “I basically didn’t talk to them until we started filming. Fortunately for me, I’m working with Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Grey, and they’re at the top of their game in this elevator scene. It’s all about the love. It just came together in a magical way.”

It also made viewers realize the depth of Andre’s sadness. “You wouldn’t believe the amount of sympathy and empathy that Andre gets now from a group of people who hated him three weeks ago,” he said. “It’s almost like the public forgot him just like his family forgot him. It’s a good lesson for people to pay attention. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

Father Figures in Literature

Top 10 father figures in literature, The Huffington Post by Allison Pataki

Pride and Prejudice: The relationship that Jane Austen created between Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett and Mr. Bennett seems like the right place to start. Mr. Bennett, father of five girls and husband to an incredibly highstrung and fatalistic wife, finds solace in his close relationship to his second girl and the novel’s heroine, Lizzy. It’s hard not to be moved when, at the end of the book, Lizzy divulges to her father her love for Mr. Darcy and her intention to marry him. Mr. Bennett, as usual, has just the right thing to say on the matter: “I cannot believe that anyone can deserve you… but it apppears I am overruled. So, I heartily give my consent. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.”

The Book Thief: The relationship between young Liesel and her adopted father, Hans Hubermann, is in many ways the heartbeat that makes this entire book pulse. While Mama addresses Liesel only as saumensch (roughly translated to the highly flattering moniker of “pig-man”), and is quick to offer a slap across the face, Hans, or Papa, adores Liesel, playing his accordion for her and teaching her to read in a series of secret, late-night sessions. Hans Hubermann’s soft and understated brand of strength shines throughout Markus Zusak’s novel as a positive force in the otherwise harrowing and tragic setting of Nazi Germany.

The Kite Runner: Khaled Hosseini’s novel, set in war-ravaged Afghanistan, is filled with complex and poignant father/son relationships. In “Baba,” Hosseini has created a bulwark of integrity and courage, a father figure before whom son Amir can’t help but feel that he constantly falls short. But Amir discovers a truth about Baba later in life, a revelation that casts an entirely new light on the unimpeachable character of Baba and calls Amir’s memories of his upbringing into question. And then there are the two servants, Ali and his son Hassan, who serve as the heart and soul of the novel. It’s the death of Hassan that prompts Amir to return to Taliban-occupied Afghanistan, where he hopes to right the wrongs of his past and save Hassan’s orphaned son. These characters will have you crying tears of both joy and heartbreak.

The Diary of Anne Frank: Only Anne’s father, Otto Frank, survived the Nazis. And he is the reason that his daughter’s diaries were published, revealing to the world the experience of a young Jewish girl in hiding during World War II. Anne loved her father dearly, and wrote often of their close relationship. And yet, even Otto Frank learned something from reading her diary, saying of Anne’s writing: “I must say, I was very much surprised by the deep thoughts Anne had. It was quite a different Anne I had known as my daughter…And my conclusion is, since I had been in very good terms with Anne, that most parents don’t know really their children.”

The Tiger’s Wife: All right, so this one’s not the father, but the grandfather. Still counts. Téa Obreht writes a relationship between heroine Natalia and her grandfather, the man who inspired her to become a doctor, that involves a shared calling for medicine, survival through civil war, and midnight visits from an elephant (yes, an elephant). Their bond proves so strong that Natalia is willing to set off into the war-ravaged Balkans to find the truth surrounding her grandfather’s sudden death. And though he’s gone, his presence lingers with Natalia, leading her to a dizzying revelation.

Team of Rivals: In this Doris Kearns Goodwin book, chock-full of historical research and page-turning prose, we see Abraham Lincoln as a savvy politician, a Commander-in-Chief at the helm of a war-torn nation, and, perhaps most touchingly, a husband and father. We melt as we see the lanky, over-burdened leader doting on his small children and allowing them to play under his desk in the Oval Office. And our hearts break with Lincoln when his beloved son Willie dies far too young.

Les Miserables: In Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, Jean Val Jean credits his adoption of the abused orphan girl Cosette as the saving grace of his life. Jean Val Jean, an escaped convict, believes that without Cosette he might have slipped back into a life of criminality and baseness. Cosette proves to be the one bright spot in Hugo’s otherwise harrowing look at some of French society’s most unfortunate members. And Jean Val Jean, as a result, becomes Hugo’s most exemplary and moral character: an honest man and a father so devoted to Cosette that he is willing to lay down his life so that she may find happiness with Marius.

Gone With the Wind: While Margaret Mitchell’s iconic heroine idealizes and reveres her forbearing, sensitive mother, Scarlett O’Hara realizes that, in temperament and personality, she is her father’s daughter. It is from her father, the Irish immigrant Gerald O’Hara, that Scarlett gets her fighting spirit, her quick wit and her even quicker temper. So too does she possess his strength of will and his love for their beloved home, “the red earth of Tara.”

A Christmas Carol: You have to hand it to the young legal clerk in Victorian England by the name of Bob Cratchit. In this father figure, Charles Dickens created a character who not only manages to save Christmas for his family (Tiny Tim!), he can even stomach being kind to Ebenezer Scrooge! Cratchit is the long-suffering and optimistic foil to Scrooge’s misanthropy and stinginess. Fortunately, Cratchit’s style wins out, and the shriveled Scrooge realizes the need for a major personality make-over. In the words of Tiny Tim, who rides atop his father’s shoulders in the final scene: “God bless us, everyone!”

To Kill a Mockingbird: The name Atticus Finch might as well be synonymous with the title of “world’s greatest dad.” And of course Gregory Peck did even better things for the character when he played the role in the 1962 on-screen adaptation (photo above). In this Harper Lee classic, set in the 1930’s in racially-segregated Alabama, Atticus Finch teaches his two children, Scout and Jem, of the importance of respecting each individual, regardless of their skin color or socioeconomic status. Atticus, a widower, holds true to his principles even when to do so means to face social ostracism and outright threats. It’s hard not to be inspired by Atticus Finch and his quiet, humble brand of integrity and strength.

Empire, Good Enough

Father-Son relationship: Every son wants to be loved and accepted by his father.