Philippe Besson Quotes

“Philippe, I’m going to Spain and I’m not coming back, at least not right away. You are going to Bordeaux and I know it will be only the first step in a long journey. I always knew you were made for somewhere else. Our paths are separating. I know you would have liked for things to be different, for me to say the words that would have reassured you, but I could not, and I never knew how to talk anyway. In the end, I tell myself that you understood. It was love, of course. And tomorrow, there will be a great emptiness. But we could not continue—you have your life waiting for you, and I will never change. I just wanted to write to tell you that I have been happy during these months together, that I have never been so happy, and that I already know I will never be so happy again.”
― Philippe Besson, Lie With Me

“Vous savez ce que je crois ? Il y a des degrés dans la souffrance, mais pas de concurrence entre les souffrances. Ou, en tout cas, il ne devrait pas y en avoir. Le chagrin d'une fillette à qui on vient d'arracher le bras de sa poupée, il est incroyablement sincère. Celui d'une vieille dame dont le chien vient de mourir demandera peut-être des mois, des années avant de s'estomper. Celui du gamin de seize ans qui a toujours rêvé de devenir, je ne sais pas, moi, joueur de foot professionnel et à qui on dit : "Oublie, tu n'es pas assez doué", ce chagrin là, il peut le traîner toute sa vie.”
― Philippe Besson

“Au début, la douleur était atroce, puis elle s'est dissipée. La douleur était comme un mur que j'avais franchi, passant de l'autre côté.”
― Philippe Besson, Les Passants de Lisbonne

“Parler de lui au présent c'était le ranger du côté des vivants. Et s'il était vivant, alors je n'étais pas tout à fait morte.”
― Philippe Besson, Les Passants de Lisbonne

“Philippe, I’m going to Spain and I’m not coming back, at least not right
away. You are going to Bordeaux and I know it will be only the first step in a
long journey. I always knew you were made for somewhere else. Our paths
are separating. I know you would have liked for things to be different, for me
to say the words that would have reassured you, but I could not, and I never
knew how to talk anyway. In the end, I tell myself that you understood. It
was love, of course. And tomorrow, there will be a great emptiness. But we
could not continue—you have your life waiting for you, and I will never
change. I just wanted to write to tell you that I have been happy during these
months together, that I have never been so happy, and that I already know I
will never be so happy again.”
― Philippe Besson, Lie With Me