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“Sometimes past associations hold us back. Nostalgia can be a trap. Don’t confuse loyalty and sentimentality,”
Far better to have a noble brow, or graceful figure, or some other subtly striking feature for the discerning admirer to notice, preferably after they learned to appreciate your strength of character.
Nowadays the list of things you’re supposed to master is a lot longer. Be pretty! And smart! And sporty! They call it being well-rounded, but sometimes it feels like they’re saying the same thing as in the olden days: Pretend to be perfect in every way!
From damned if you do to damned if you don’t: the story of women’s lives.
Who needed the obvious charms of June when you could have the burnished richness of autumn?
“Be true to yourself and other people will see your worth. If they’re worth your time.”
Why do people in books always let themselves do things they know they’ll regret? It’s like they’ve never heard of self-control. I just want to yell at the page, Stop! Before it’s too late!
Whenever I heard the phrase dark night of the soul, I used to imagine Christmas Eve, when you’re too excited to sleep. Now I know better.
“You know, Mary, there is no version of this story where you don’t make mistakes.”
“It’s the nature of existence. To err is human. We screw up, and then screw up some more.”
“Remorse forces us to take a hard look at ourselves. It gives us the strength to grow, and the courage to do the right thing next time—or at least try.
He shrugged. “Will it work? Maybe, maybe not. But you know what I hate?” I shook my head. “The part in books where supposedly smart characters screw up their lives because it’s just too hard”—he made a crybaby face, fists twisting in front of his eyes—“to tell someone the truth.”
You go your whole life thinking you know exactly which kind of character you are. Virtuous. Loyal. Full of integrity. Brave if the situation calls for it, which hopefully isn’t too often. The hero, not the villain. But what if the bad guys feel the same way? Maybe they aren’t sitting around cackling evilly and twirling their mustaches; they just cut themselves too much slack when it comes to doing what they want.
There could be different types of friendship, and different stages within each one. Deep bonds of loyalty and affection, or ties that have more to do with convenience. Relationships that hold you back, and ones that grow with you.
