The Black Tides of Heaven Quotes

“The saying goes, ‘The black tides of heaven direct the courses of human lives.’ To which a wise teacher said, ‘But as with all waters, one can swim against the tide.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“With all the horrors in the world, it was easy to forget there were wonders too.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“People make mistakes. They can't be mistakes.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“Let the black tides of heaven direct our lives,” he murmured. He turned to look at his partner. “I choose to swim.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“The powerful can make the truth dance to their song.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“The mountain shrugs, but thinks nothing of the houses crushed in the avalanche. That was not its purpose.” “And that’s meant to be comforting?” “Yes,” said Mokoya, a little too earnestly. “Because it’s not about you, or what you’ve done. There’s no bigger reason to things.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“Because he had always known, even as a child, that he was the lightning, while she was the fire in the core of planets. And the world needed both. Revolutions needed both. Someone had to wield the knives, but someone also had to write the treaties.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“In the monastery,” Mokoya said, “they taught us that fortune is both intractable and impartial. That when bad things happen, it’s the result of an incomprehensible and inhuman universe working as it does. The mountain shrugs, but thinks nothing of the houses crushed in the avalanche. That was not its purpose.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“There are no righteous deaths,” Yongcheow whispered. “Only ones that cannot be avoided.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“The onset of age was like a dam breaking: slowly at first, then all at once.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“I don’t care about the fortunes. I care about doing whatever you can, with whatever’s in front of you. Because it’s the only thing you can do.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“Earth, for gravity; Water, for motion; Fire, for hot and cold; Forest, for flesh and blood; Metal, for electricity. Everything else is extra.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“The black tides of heaven direct the courses of human lives. But as with all waters, one can swim against the tide. I chose to swim. So can you”
― Neon Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“You have a good heart. And that’s a rare thing in these times. A beautiful thing.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“HIS NAME WAS Thennjay Satyaparathnam.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“People make mistakes, they can’t be mistakes.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“The philosopher Sadhya, a wise man, said that the powerful can make the truth dance to their song.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven

“Akeha said, “So how come you decided to be a woman?” Mokoya’s puzzled frown revealed everything they thought about this question. “I didn’t decide anything. I’ve always felt like one. A girl.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Black Tides of Heaven