The Lost Daughter Quotes

“I think there are patterns in human behaviour,' he said, 'but not in fate.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“It's human nature to try to look for patterns in life,' Val said, 'but I suppose most things are random.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“The ideas behind Communism are sound, but the wrong people got into power.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“Why did the Russian people not rise up in protest?” Maria asked. “They rose to overthrow the Romanovs, but not Stalin. Explain it to me.” Ludmilla replied, “The fear crept up gradually. It was easier to keep quiet while the NKVD were terrorizing someone else’s family. When my mother was arrested I couldn’t find a single person to testify on her behalf. They said she shouldn’t have been so stupid as to make a stand over religion. They thought silence would keep them safe—then they started getting arrested anyway.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“there was no question in her mind that Raisa was an NKVD informer. She was exactly the type they would target because she would love the self-importance.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“Every apartment block and workplace had informers who would run to the NKVD at the slightest provocation. They might be jealous because you had a better apartment or a more pleasant job than them; perhaps they thought you had not been effusive enough when greeting them in the street. Maria did her best to be friendly with everyone, as had always been her way, but you never knew who were your true friends and who were secret enemies. As the Komsomol meetings proved, one could turn into the other in the blink of an eye.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“I don’t like the Russian people anymore. This regime brings out the worst in everyone. But I agree, it’s better not to speak up or you could find yourself targeted next.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter

“Her complete lack of empathy, and her conviction of her own moral rectitude, was chilling.”
― Gill Paul, The Lost Daughter