"In my life I am now more determined, goal-oriented, and I know myself a lot more due to this course (Venture Course in the Humanities). I have found out what I am capable of…and the world better watch out!"

"The humanities invite slowness and reflection. They invite us to listen, to imagine, to connect across time and culture and experience. They teach us that the things we struggle with today—identity, grief, ambition, love, injustice, hope—are not new. We are part of an ongoing human conversation, and our questions are shared ones.

"On a deeper level, my early experiences with music, books, and film helped create an internal well I can draw from in times of anxiety, confusion, sorrow, curiosity, and joy to bring me closer to my own humanity and that of others. "

"Well-written literature has helped me better appreciate my fellow travelers on this planet we call Earth, and the humanities have helped me be a better human."

"I continue to be curious about all things. My life is so much richer because of the Humanities. Where would we be without the Humanities? Could we even exist? How boring would that be?! I don’t think I want to know. I AM the Humanities!"

"The humanities have helped me to make sense of my family's history in northern Utah, and orient myself toward a progressive vision for the future of our state. The Humanities have brought me to the understanding that human beings are part of the miraculous web of living things, all connected in ways we are barely beginning to understand, and that we are not separate from nature."

"The humanities as a way of relating to individuals, to people, and making a difference in their lives, so that they could then be fuller, more complete human beings, as we talked about the humanities."

Speaking of humanities, that’s what school was all about, educating the person to adapt and contribute to society that requires a certain base: a foundation of learning. And that’s what that school provided to me. They basically prepared me to become an ambassador for my people."

"I don’t have a memory of not having the love of story in my life. I mean, from the time I was little, my mother was a storyteller; she was keeping the history alive, she was saying, “This is who you are and why; and you’re making that happen.”

“What I walked away with from Utah Humanities is that ultimately it is the centerpiece of celebrating, educating, understanding, and most importantly, protecting human dignity in Utah.”

“It’s really inspiring how much people care about humanities work, without always calling it humanities: it’s just their lives. And I loved being able to see that and be part of that. It’s not humanities for everyone; it is for us, because we know what it’s called. But for other people it’s the work of their lives, it’s the work of their neighbors. And it’s about being connected, whatever they call it, it’s truly remarkable.”

"I had “the humanities” as a part of my life ALL of my life. I had never considered what it might be like to grow up without books, without a sense of the country’s history, or an introduction to art. I never really thought about what the trajectory of my life would have been had I never been introduced to powerful language or intriguing ideas at an early age."