A Pledge of Silence Quotes

“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“When we came home, nobody wanted to hear what we nurses had been through. We were expected to carry on from where we left off—get married, have our babies, support our husbands’ careers. That’s what I tried to do, but I had a bad time for a while.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Little in return? You’re so wrong. I worked hard because I had a hunger inside me that no amount of food could satisfy. I found relief from it by feeding others.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“What would it feel like to spew venomous anger? To writhe with hate? To cry bitter tears? To truly love and feel loved in return? To care deeply and passionately about something or someone? Was she destined to live emotionally flat forever?”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“She learned things went better if she kept a distance between them, a decision that brought with it sadness and guilt. She vowed to herself to carry the burden silently. That was a sort of love. Wasn’t it?”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Then find it in your heart to forgive your weakened self . . . as you would a burdened friend.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Turning misfortune into triumph is a way to conquer it.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Worth has nothing to do with it,” he said. “Pushing back, denying, subverting is a need, a requisite for an impotent population to stay sane.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“when you live in a nightmare, you react as if in a nightmare.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Think of hell, multiply it by a thousand, and you wouldn’t even begin to get close to the savagery, the horror, and the images that burn into your brain.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“The war didn’t stop at liberation, or VE Day, or VJ Day for the nurses who spent years as prisoners of war. Many lived their entire lives with the aftereffects of starvation, deprivation, and fear. But, they were women and nurses, and they were expected to be silent about what they had seen—or done—and to carry on as if nothing had happened. Some did, but many struggled”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“No matter how evil the situation, no matter how beaten down you are, no matter how justifiable an action might seem, you lose precious years trying to reconcile what you did.” Barbara’s”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Turning misfortune into triumph is a way to conquer it.” “I”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“a person beaten down by hunger and fear did not function normally, and that that, in itself, was normal behavior. “I”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Muddled”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“you live in a nightmare, you react as if in a nightmare. She”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“It’s not hard if you know what to look for. Little things give a person away—facial expressions, body position, hand signals, even voice inflections. Right now, I know you’re very uncomfortable.” She”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Do you think you can help me?” “I can’t promise that. I’ve worked with many veterans, and I’m a World War I veteran myself. One thing I’ve learned in my practice is whatever progress you make is entirely up to you. I can guide you, but I can’t bring you to wholeness unless you’re willing to work. You’ll have to be truthful. Sometimes it will be painful. You’re going to have to face things you may not want to.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“I’ll never do this again.” “That’s what we all say. You feel miserable right now, but you’ll forget most of it. You’ll be overcome with new feelings. Nothing compares to mother love.” Margie”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Things will work out. They always do.” “What’s”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“Days filled with warm embraces, knowing smiles, and a desire to be closer preceded passion-filled nights. In time, their love mellowed and deepened.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“felt her heart rate increase, her attempt at self-persuasion unconvincing. She felt heat rising from her chest to the roots of her hair, and within minutes her body was drenched in a cold sweat. She gave Barbara Ann her pacifier and replaced her in the bassinet, then lit a cigarette to slow the tide of anxiety—the feeling of imminent doom, the racing heart, the ragged breaths—that threatened to break down her carefully cultivated defenses. Barbara”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“She prayed, Please, Lord, accept my love, and forgive my sins. Help me understand what has happened to me and lead me to the path to become whole again. One”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“to stop you?”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“and whose delusions of grandeur”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“precious years trying to reconcile what you did.”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“mine or Billy’s?” Slowly turning the pages of the old album, they poured over grainy gray pictures and reminisced about long-ago Christmases, birthdays, and vacations they’d taken on the shores of Lake Michigan. Margie found the activity soothing, and she said, “Wade loved his grandpa’s cabin. He was always relaxed there. It was where he wrote some of his best love songs.” Barbara said, “I remember falling asleep in”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“clench. Why couldn’t she tell Barbara the truth and end this charade? She blurted out, “From the minute I first held you, I loved you more than I was able to show. I’ve always found it hard to say those words. I can’t help it.” Bursting into tears, she ran to the bathroom. Barbara followed and knocked on the door. “Mom, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. The day is sad enough without this. Is there something I can do to make you feel better?” Margie struggled to compose herself; her”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence

“be awarded these?” She put them down and picked up the”
― Flora J. Solomon, A Pledge of Silence