Beard Science Quotes

“Stay away from the normals, the small-minded people who fill their brains with small-minded pursuits, who blend in and keep up with the Joneses. Those people will tear you down and make you boring. Instead, surround yourself with the weirds. With the misfits, oddballs, and outcasts. Because the normals, bless their hearts, have no idea how to have fun.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I don’t like to judge people.

I love it.

Writing people completely off was liberating”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I changed my mind.”

“You changed—”

“My. Mind.” I stopped short and faced him, placing my hands on my hips. “It’s like underpants, Jethro.”

“Dirty and dark?” He smirked.

“No.” I scowled at his facial expression. “A mind is like underpants because people change them all the time.”

“But you don’t.”

“I do change my underpants all the time, Jethro. And, for the record, I think it’s mighty rude of you to assume I don’t.”

He almost rolled his eyes, but caught the urge. “I meant your mind, Cletus. You don’t change your mind.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I hadn’t seen Jennifer in a week. Absence doesn’t make the heart grow fonder. Whoever said that was a damn fool. Absence makes the heart suicidal. Take my heart for example. It hadn’t stopped hurling itself against my ribs—at odd times, day or night—for a week.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Saying someone would make a great politician is like saying someone would make a great serial killer. It’s not a compliment.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“No one expects an eighty-five-year-old Navy SEAL stripper. No one. And that was the beauty of George.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Let's clear one thing up: Introverts do not hate small talk because we dislike people. We hate small talk because we hate the barrier it creates between people.” ― Laurie Helgoe, Introvert Power   ~Jennifer~”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“You’re my beginning, middle, and end.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“My hair is ridiculous. It's been misbehaving since birth.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“Then we can skip it and you can admit you’re wrong.”

“I can’t admit I’m wrong about two things in the same day.” I brought my attention back to him, found him smirking at me. “It might bring about the apocalypse.”

“Then admit it tomorrow”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“You want to know what you are to me? Fine. You’re my beginning, middle, and end.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“That’s right. You seize that woman, Cletus. You make her yours. And then after,” still grinning, Duane dropped his hand on my shoulder and gave me a little shake, “you give that woman your sausage.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“The phone in my hand buzzed, demanding my attention, and a text flashed on the screen. It was from Cletus and the sight made my heart lurch and twist, a pining ache stealing my breath. As I scrolled through my notifications, I noticed several texts.

Cletus: I’m sorry. I was wrong, you were right.

Cletus: I just realized you probably don’t have your phone.

Cletus: I think I’m going to make myself useful by retrieving your phone.

Cletus: I just left your parents’ house. I have your phone.

Cletus: Clearly I had your phone, if you’re reading these messages.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Old things have soul. Then to me she’d add on a whisper, ‘And young things have spirit.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“You’ll know one day, Cletus. You’ll discover what it’s like to find the other part of yourself. You’ll know it’s her, only her, always her. Maybe not right away, but eventually you’ll know. She’ll be your beginning, middle, and end. And your intentions won’t matter. Love brings its own intentions, and all other plans, hopes, and dreams fade to insignificance in the face of love.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“If ignorance is bliss, then knowledge is a cage.” “But knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Because that’s what would happen. I would fall in love with you and then you’d break my heart.

I can’t break your heart without breaking mine, and I’m terribly fond of my heart.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Bullshit was the adult version of Santa Claus. For reasons I’ll never comprehend, the general population seemed to enjoy wallowing, spouting, and believing in bullshit.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“This was our beginning. I couldn’t wait for the middle. And I never wanted it to end.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Dammit, Billy. You had one job. One. Job.

I moved my glare to my brother. “May I have a word?”

“Now?” he asked, looking and sounding almost delighted. Of note, delighted for Billy was imperturbably stoic for everyone else.

“Yes. Now.” I bared my teeth in a grin.

Billy’s eyes moved between mine and I cursed his fastidious grooming. He’d taken extra care with the beard trimmer this afternoon. He also smelled like a profligate, cologne, and unrequited infatuation.

My older brother turned and whispered something into Jennifer’s ear. I stiffened, barely restraining the urge to grab him by his shirt collar and yank him down the hall.

But I didn’t. Instead I made a list of all his most treasured possessions for . . . reasons.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Crap.

She’s going to cry.

This was a situation that required neutralizing. I placed my hand over hers and gave her a squeeze.

“There, there.” Fruit cake. “Calm down—”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“This is what we do. We fix things. We’re tinker-ers. If we didn’t tinker with cars, we’d tinker with people.”

Drew flashed a rare grin. “You already tinker with people, Cletus.”

“You are correct,” I sat straighter in my seat, ready to defend myself, “but only my family. And y’all deserve my tinkering.”

“Don’t get me wrong. You’re good at tinkering. Aside from those revenge plots, people are lucky to have you interfering in their lives.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Just because someone is an idiot doesn't mean they're a bad person. And just because someone is smart doesn't mean they're good.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Do you honestly think God would make a creature as lovely and talented and good as your sister, and then make the way she looks something sinful? Something to be ashamed of? No. He wouldn’t. If anything, your sister—her face, her body, her mind, and her heart—give glory to Him. And she shouldn’t be hidden. You don’t hide something that remarkable away from the world, like your parents have done, like you want to do. That’s the true sin.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I just feel sorry for men now. It must be frustrating to be so feeble and limited.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I aspire to different achievements than worldly success, and I know you do as well. But, Claire, I’m glad you finally saw reason and accepted the record deal. Your star is too bright to hide in plain sight.”

“You just rhymed, Cletus. I might have to steal that for a song.”

“Go ahead. I ain’t using it for anything profitable.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You do too, liar.” Jethro gave me an easysmile, laughing, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Duane let it slip.”

“Duane?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Duane doesn’t talk. How could he have let it slip? Did he do an interpretive dance?”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“Finally, he sighed and suggested, “How about you lay it all out? Tell her everything.”

I blinked once, slowly, then glared at my brother. “I don’t like that advice. That’s seriously shitty advice.”

He lifted an eyebrow at me. “It’s your advice. It’s what you’ve been telling me to do with,” his eyes dropped and he took a breath before continuing, “with Scarlet...”

“It’s still shitty advice. I have no idea of knowing what’s in her head. What if she rejects me?” My words pulled a small smile from him. Even so, I added, “I hope you didn’t take it.”

He shook his head. “She’d have to agree to talk to me first.”

I examined my brother. “You and I might be sharing a boat.”

“Yeah, but your boat is newer.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“if you don't want someone to get your goat, don't let them know where it's tied.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science

“This was our life. This woman was my future. She would be the mother of my children.

This was our beginning.

I couldn't wait for the middle.

And I never wanted it to end.”
― Penny Reid, Beard Science