January 21: Notable Births and Deaths, with Quotes

Let’s explore notable birth and death anniversaries for January 21.

Hakeem Olajuwon, basketball player (January 21, 1963–present)

“When I was in Nigeria, I didn’t understand my true Islamic responsibilities, but I grew up as a Muslim.” —Hakeem Olajuwon
Editor in Chief – A.C. “Interview with Hakeem Olajuwon.” TIM, August 23, 2014, https://www.theislamicmonthly.com/interview-with-hakeem-olajuwon/.

“The impact the center position gives in the game of basketball is a primary position. They are calling it the center, center of gravity. Everything goes around it.” —Hakeem Olajuwon
Editor in Chief – A.C. “Interview with Hakeem Olajuwon.” TIM, August 23, 2014, https://www.theislamicmonthly.com/interview-with-hakeem-olajuwon/.

“When I was playing, I didn’t realize how much of an impact I would make on people, Muslim or non-Muslim. We played a lot of games during Ramadan. On national TV, the announcers were commenting about Ramadan, and this raised the awareness to the general public and we made all the Muslims very, very proud. So, today, everywhere I go, I see Muslim families telling their children that before they were born, I was playing on national TV, playing in the high level, while fasting.” —Hakeem Olajuwon
Editor in Chief – A.C. “Interview with Hakeem Olajuwon.” TIM, August 23, 2014, https://www.theislamicmonthly.com/interview-with-hakeem-olajuwon/.

“We pray five times a day so, it’s frequent. Ramadan, it’s just intensified. It’s always something that everybody looks forward to. I can enjoy much more now that I’m not playing … I can enjoy my kids and my family.” —Hakeem Olajuwon
ABC13. “Hakeem Olajuwon tells ABC13 what Ramadan means to him and his family.” ABC13, April 12, 2021, https://abc13.com/hakeem-olajuwon-ramadan-athlete-greatest/10511158/.

Placido Domingo, opera singer and conductor (January 21, 1941–present)

“If I rest, I rust.” —Placido Domingo
Conrad, Peter. “Placido Domingo: ‘I am a very happy man, but I love to suffer on stage.’” The Guardian, July 17, 2010, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/18/placido-domingo-profile-peter-conrad.

“I must show to those who are younger how live theatre is supposed to be.”  —Placido Domingo
Conrad, Peter. “Placido Domingo: ‘I am a very happy man, but I love to suffer on stage.’” The Guardian, July 17, 2010, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/18/placido-domingo-profile-peter-conrad.

“I keep everything for the stage, except happiness. That I want to have when I am not in the theatre—when I am with my family.”  —Placido Domingo
Conrad, Peter. “Placido Domingo: ‘I am a very happy man, but I love to suffer on stage.’” The Guardian, July 17, 2010, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/jul/18/placido-domingo-profile-peter-conrad.

James Beard, chef and television personality (May 5, 1903–January 21, 1985)

“In my twenty-five years of teaching I have tried to make people realize that cooking is primarily fun and that the more they know about what they are doing, the more fun it is.” —James Beard
Beard, James. “James Beard’s Theory and Practice of Good Cooking.” Running Press, October 17, 1999.

“When you cook, you never stop learning. That’s the fascination of it.” —James Beard
Beard, James. “James Beard’s Theory and Practice of Good Cooking.” Running Press, October 17, 1999.

George Orwell, novelist and essayist (June 25, 1903–January 21, 1950)

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” —George Orwell
Orwell, George. “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Secker & Warburg, June 8, 1949.

“Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.” —George Orwell
Orwell, George. “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Secker & Warburg, June 8, 1949.

“Big Brother is watching you.” —George Orwell
Orwell, George. “Nineteen Eighty-Four.” Secker & Warburg, June 8, 1949.

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