Image via PBS http://www.pbs.org/food/julia-child-100-birthday/

Julia Child was a fascinating woman. She was a chef and a spy. She accepted a $300 bottle of wine from Boston gangsters. She hated product placement, so she removed labels from products she used on The French Chef*. Most people know her for her incredible cooking, but I love her wit and overall life philosophies.

Among her humorous quotes on food and dieting, she had so much to say on how to live life. So let’s celebrate her 100th birthday by taking a look at some of them.

“The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile. I think of my strawberry soufflé. I did that at least twenty-eight times before I finally conquered it.”

Don’t give up: Sometimes you need to do something 28 times before you’re successful. How many times did Harry have to practice the summoning spell before he could do it successfully for the first task in The Goblet of Fire? He wasn’t perfect, but he accomplished his goal.

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure.” 

Don’t let the fear of failure stop you: In Maggie Steifvater’s The Scorpio Races, Puck needs to get conquer her fear of losing the race when she enters with her own horse (instead of capaill uisce) in hopes of winning the prize money and saving her house.

“Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.”

Don’t give up on the things you love: In Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Isabelle’s godfather is a filmmaker who lost his passion when he had to sell his films for money during WWI. He becomes bitter and depressed without his passion until Hugo brings it back in to his life.

“Remember, ‘No one’s more important than people’! In other words, friendship is the most important thing–not career or housework, or one’s fatigue–and it needs to be tended and nurtured,” from My Life in France

Don’t underestimate friendships or take them for granted: Take a look at Morgan’s post on best friends.

What’s your favorite Julia Child philosophy? And just for fun, here’s a great remix PBS made of Julia Child!

*Thanks to Christian Science Monitor for the fun facts.

 “This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ~Julia Child