The Fury Quotes

“We are all unreliable narrators of our own lives.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Now, I know only this for sure--the first half of life is pure selfishness; the second half, all grief.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“The real tragedy is, of course, by always looking outward, by focusing so intently on the other person's experience, we lose touch with our own. It's as if we live our entire life pretending to be ourselves, as imposters impersonating ourselves, rather than feeling this is really me, this is who I am.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Once I saw the kid in me, I started seeing kids in other people—all dressed as adults, playacting at being grown-up. But I saw through the performances now, to the frightened children beneath.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Now, I know only this for sure—the first half of life is pure selfishness; the second half, all grief.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“If you're afraid, you can't be authentic.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“I often think life is just a performance. None of this is real. It's a pretense at reality, that's all. Only when someone, or something, we love dies, do we wake up from the play-and see how artificial it all is-this constructed reality we inhabit.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“In case I am speaking to a young person now, let me give you something to hold on to: do not despair at being different. For that very difference, initially such a source of shame, so humiliating, and painful, will one day become a badge of honor and pride.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Character is fate. Remember that, for later. Remember the kid, too. And I don’t just mean the kid in me, but the kid in you. “I know telling you to love yourself is a big ask,” Mariana used to say. “But learning to love, or, at least, have compassion for, the child you once were, is a big step in the right direction.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“… that’s how we communicate, isn’t it? We’re all over the place: we jump back and forth in time; slow down and expand on some moments; fast-forward through others; editing as we go, minimizing flaws and maximizing assets. We are all the unreliable narrators of our own lives.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“That’s why, these days, I repeatedly force myself to return to my own experience: not are they enjoying themselves? But am I? Not do they like me? But do I like them?”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“According to Mr. Levy, there is only one answer:
“Our motivation is to remove pain.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Once I saw the kid in me, I started seeing kids in other people—all dressed as adults, playacting at being grown-up. But I saw through the performances now, to the frightened children beneath. And when you think of someone as a child, it’s impossible for you to feel hatred.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“It’s like falling in love, isn’t it, when you make a new friend?”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“My therapist once told me that all traumatized children, and the adults they become, tend to focus exclusively on the outside world. A kind of hypervigilance, I suppose. We look outward, not inward-scanning the world for danger signs - is it safe or not? We grow up so terrified of incurring anger, for instance, or contempt, that now, as adults, if we glimpse a stifled yawn while talking to someone, a look of boredom or irritation in their eyes, we feel a horrible, frightening disintegration inside - like a frayed fabric being ripped apart - and swiftly redouble our efforts to entertain and please.
The real tragedy is, of course, by always looking outward, by focusing so intently on the other person's experience, we lose touch with our own. It's as if we live our entire life pretending to be ourselves, as impostors impersonating ourselves, rather than feeling this is really me, this is who I am.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“I read somewhere that hell has always been misrepresented. It is not a burning pit, full of fiery torments. In fact, hell is just an absence, a banishment from God’s presence. To be removed from Him is hell itself.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“We are the unreliable narrators of our own lives.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Both theatre and reality, said Mr Levy, came down to just three words – motivation, intention and goal.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“I had longed for love, whatever that means, all my life. I longed for another human being to see me, accept me—care for me. But when I was a young man, I was so invested in this fake person I wanted to be, this false self. I simply wasn’t capable of engaging in a relationship with another human being—I never let anyone get close enough. I was always acting, and any affection I received felt curiously unsatisfying. It was for a performance, not for me.
These are the mad hoops damaged people jump through: so desperate to receive love—but when it is given to us, it can’t be felt. This is because we don’t need love for an artificial creation, a mask. What we need, what we desperately long for, is love for the only thing we will never show anyone: the ugly, scared kid inside.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“The real tragedy is, of course, by always looking outward, by focusing so intently on the other person’s experience, we lose touch with our own. It’s as if we live our entire life pretending to be ourselves, as impostors impersonating ourselves, rather than feeling this is really me, this is who I am.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“That’s where all creativity is born, I believe—in the desire to escape.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“I’m about forty years old, give or take a year or two. I’m told I look younger. That’s down to my refusal to grow up, no doubt—never mind grow old. I still feel like a kid inside. Doesn’t everyone?”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“I often think life is just a performance. None of this is real. It’s a pretense at reality, that’s all. Only when someone, or something, we love dies, do we wake up from the play—and see how artificial it all is—this constructed reality we inhabit. We suddenly realize that life is in no way lasting, or permanent; no future exists—and nothing we do matters. And in desolation, we howl and scream and rail at the heavens, until, at some point, we do the inevitable: we eat, dress, and brush our teeth. We continue with the marionette-like motions of life, however unhinged it feels to do so. Then, ever so slowly, the illusion takes over again—until we forget that we are actors in a play. Until the next tragedy strikes—to wake us up.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“When we are young,” Mariana said, “and afraid—when we are shamed, and humiliated—something happens. Time stops. It freezes, in that moment. A version of us is trapped, at that age—forever.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Can anyone pinpoint that precise moment when love turns to hate? Everything ends, I know that. Especially happiness. Especially love.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“motivation; intention; and goal.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“A terrified child trapped inside my mind. A child who won’t go away. Suddenly it all made sense. All the uneasy feelings I experienced on the street, or in social situations, or if I had to disagree with someone, or assert myself—the queasiness in my stomach, fear of eye contact—this had nothing to do with me, nothing to do with the here and now. They were old feelings that were displaced in time. They belonged to a little boy long ago, who was once so afraid, under attack, and unable to defend himself.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“You, me, Jason, and Leo. And Agathi, of course … I’m not sure if I’ll ask Elliot—he’s been annoying me lately. Well, what do you say?”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“Or is Nikos too obvious a suspect? A Greek-island version of ‘the butler did it’?”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury

“We suddenly realize that life is in no way lasting, or permanent; no future exists—and nothing we do matters. And in desolation, we howl and scream and rail at the heavens, until, at some point, we do the inevitable: we eat, dress, and brush our teeth. We continue with the marionette-like motions of life, however unhinged it feels to do so. Then, ever so slowly, the illusion takes over again—until we forget that we are actors in a play.”
― Alex Michaelides, The Fury