“The physician’s duty is not to stave off death or return patients to their old lives, but to take into our arms a patient and family whose lives have disintegrated and work until they can stand back up and face, and make sense of, their own existence.”
― When Breath Becomes Air
― When Breath Becomes Air
“Years ago, it had occurred to me that Darwin and Nietzsche agreed on one thing: the defining characteristic of the organism is striving.”
― When Breath Becomes Air
― When Breath Becomes Air
“Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Whenever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the centre of the universe.”
―
―
“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.”
― Butterflies and Bullshit
― Butterflies and Bullshit
“What harm could there be in returning smile for smile and in allowing the most charming man she had ever met to conquer the few remaining corners of her heart where common sense retained a last fleeting hold?”
― Sanditon: Jane Austen's Last Novel Completed
― Sanditon: Jane Austen's Last Novel Completed
The Creative Writer's Toolbelt
— 263 members
— last activity Jan 21, 2024 12:17PM
The Creative Writers Toolbelt podcast gives you practical, accessible advice, with examples, that you can apply to your writing immediately. You can ...more
Oprah's Book Club (Official)
— 86348 members
— last activity Apr 20, 2026 01:31AM
Welcome to the official Oprah's Book Club group. OBC is the interactive, multi-platform reading club bringing passionate readers together to discuss i ...more
Our Shared Shelf
— 222866 members
— last activity Apr 20, 2026 04:53AM
OUR SHARED SHELF IS CURRENTLY DORMANT AND NOT MANAGED BY EMMA AND HER TEAM. Dear Readers, As part of my work with UN Women, I have started reading ...more
Sam’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Sam’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Sam
Lists liked by Sam






















































