Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink Quotes

“Arie, you bring out a fire in Noah that I’d never seen anyone else ignite. You not only complete him and compliment him but you are his opposite and other half. You are the very essence of who he is. He is who he is because of you. When he looks at you, he sees a mirror reflecting all the things that he hopes and longs for in life. And that, my dear, is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Today, we’re learning about ripples. Different objects cause different wave and ripple patterns,” the teacher said. “What is the only way to stop a ripple, according to the laws of physics?”

“Help it dissipate to its smallest energy state,” a student answered.

“Excellent. How do we do that?”

“Calm the pond,” Charlie answered.

“That’s right. You need to calm the pond somehow. So how do we do that?”

“You need to cause something to happen that provides an equal and opposite reaction?” Bernie said, unsure.

“Exactly! What happens when you have two forces, equal and opposite, colliding?”

“They cancel each other out!” a student at the front of the class called out.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Always watch over me, okay?” Noah asked, starting to cry again. “Promise me that you’ll always be near. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

“My dear boy,” he said, reaching a hand to wipe the tears from Noah’s face. “As long as you need me, I’ll always be near. I promise.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I can’t thank you enough for everything that you’ve done in my life. For the support and guidance, you’ve given me all these years. There were some dark times that I went through where I didn’t know if I’d make it out of alive. When you were there, you gave me the strength to keep moving forward. How do I ever repay you for the kindness you’ve shown me?”

“Pay it forward,” he said with a smile.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“In the story, The Alchemist, a young Shepard named Santiago went looking for treasure. He traveled the world to fulfill his Personal Legend. On his way, he meets and falls in love with a beautiful and exotic woman named Fatima."

“He says to her, ‘So I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.’ Noah and Arie, I can assure you that like Santiago and Fatima, the universe conspired to help you two find each other."

“I wish you a lifetime of more love than anyone could dream of and more happiness than the grains of sand on earth.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“From the moment that I met Noah, I loved the boy. I saw something special in him. A love, a fire, a passion for making the world a better place. Noah has been and continues to be, the type of person who would sacrifice himself to help out a stranger. It’s his sheer belief that his small acts of kindness would make the world a better place someday."

“But you’re wrong, Noah,” he said, turning to Noah.

"Your small acts of kindness won’t make the world a better place someday. They already are and have. Only you’ve been so busy that you haven’t taken the time to notice it. But I have. I’ve seen the good you’ve done and how they’ve affected other people’s lives.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.’ Paulo Coelho wrote that in The Alchemist. For the rest of our lives Arie, I want you to remember that I love you. There is no reason needed for why I love you. I love you. That’s it. And because there is no reason, there is nothing that you could do or say to take that love away or make that love fade.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I don’t know if it’s the emotions of today that’s getting to me or if you’re there. Whatever it is, I want to let you know that you’ve made an impact on me and my life. More than you’ll ever know. And I know that ‘Thank you’ are two simple words but I don’t know what else to say. You’ve done so much for me and I don’t even know who you are or why you chose to protect me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Enclosed is a picture that I drew of myself. It was from a long time ago…when there were still three of us living in that house and under that roof. This is how I saw myself, or the man that I hoped to be one day.

I kept it all these years because it reminded me of the way you used to look at me.

You used to believe in me so much. Please accept it as a small token of my gratitude for everything you’ve done for me. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. I am a better man today because of you.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“The truth is, Father, I know you’re hurting. I see and feel it. But I’ve come to realize that trying to please you is not the way to get to your heart. You have to love yourself enough to let others love you. Until you do that, there’s nothing that I can do for you. There’s nothing that anyone can do for you.

All I can do is wish you the best that life has to offer. One of these days, you will realize that when people love you, they don’t need a reason. They love you because they do. And sometimes, life is that simple.

Until that day comes, I want you to know that I forgive you. But more important than that, forgive me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I am compassionate enough to know that everyone can be a blessing in your life, even if they don’t have any money. That money does not equate value. I am humble enough to admit when I’m wrong. I am selfless enough to give all I have. And at the end of the day, I rest my head knowing that I did my best. To me, that makes me something.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I now know and realize that I am responsible for my own happiness. I am responsible for my own success.
It doesn’t matter who is proud of me; at the end of the day, I need to be proud of myself. So you were right. Thank you for that lesson.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“How can I help you make this better?”

“You can’t,” he said, “because there’s nothing to make better. I have you. That’s all I need. I realized that during the past two weeks as I awaited their reply. When you finally handed me the envelope, I realized that I didn’t care what they had to say. I didn’t care whether they came or not. Either way, I was going to marry the love of my life and there was nothing my father could do to stop me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Josie got teary-eyed. “I swear, if you make me cry and ruin my make-up, your bride-to-be will be the last face you ever see.”

“Well, then I will have died a happy man.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Hurt people hurt people,” Mr. Hinkle said. “They can change it by taking small steps and choosing to make a change. It still doesn’t change the fact that hurt people hurt people.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“How do you eat a whale?”

“One spoonful at a time,” Bernie answered, laughing.

“Exactly. We need to take it one step at a time. Small changes. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. Even a novel starts with a single idea and a single word.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“If I’m being honest with myself, it’s because I never felt like I was someone worth loving or worth having around. Like I was more trouble than I was worth.”

“And why do you feel that way?”

“Because, I don’t have much to contribute to society, Charlie. I’m not smart. I’m not decorated. I’m not educated. I’m not anything that anyone aspires to be. I’m not important.”

“But how do you know? Is your life over already?”

“Well, no. It’s not.”

“Then how do you already know all that about yourself and your life if your life isn’t over yet?”

“I guess I’m basing it off of who I was before and who I am now.”

“Do you want to be and stay that same person, Bernie?”

“Well, of course not.”

“Then change it. You have the power to change who you are to be the best version of yourself. But you have to want to do it, Bern. No one can do it for you. You also have to believe that you deserve better if you’re ever going to get anything better out of life.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Mr. Hinkle felt like an intruder. Yet he couldn’t pull himself away. It was thirty minutes. It was a lifetime of pain. It was a mountain of misunderstandings. It was a flood of vulnerability. So many emotions erupted from every nook and cranny of that room. He couldn’t call it healing because here was no closure. There was no moving past this. If anything, there’d only be regret and sorrow.

Mr. Hinkle whispered the two words synonymous with too late: “If only.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“War does terrible things to people, Noah. It haunts them in ways that I hope you will never have to live through or experience. This doesn’t make what I did right. But what you did for your brother made you a man in my eyes that day.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Josie, you were my first grandchild. There was so much that I wanted to do right by you. I had so many hopes and dreams for you that I never got to share. I know that it was my fault. I was the one who created a toxic environment, causing your parents to alienate you from me. But it’s my dying wish that you please find it in your heart to forgive me for not being the grandfather you deserved.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I’m sorry that this is how it ends for you. I’m sorry that your last words were not ones said surrounded by family and friends. I’m sorry that you died alone in hospice and that you left the world without anyone by your side. I know that it’s too late, but we are here. And whether you can or can’t see us, you were our grandfather and we’ll always love you,” Noah finished.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I can’t believe I beat you.”

“Weren’t you hoping to beat me?”

“Well, yeah. I always hope to beat you. That doesn’t mean that I ever do.”

“Sometimes, a little hope is all you need.”

“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of.”

“Where’s that from?”

“I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak,” said Bernie. “I’m currently reading it. I’m trying to broaden my horizons.”

“Very good. I’ve taught you well. The teacher has become the student,” Charlie said, laughing.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“You can’t admit to someone else what you’re too damn afraid to admit to yourself.’ That’s what Beth Lewis said in The Wolf Road, Bernie. The truth starts with you. It’s a hard pill to swallow but you have to do it if you want to move past this. Otherwise, you’re going to keep lying to yourself.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“You’re a dying bitter old man,” Luke replied, trying to think of something to say to hurt his father.

“And you’re nothing but bitter,” Paul spat back.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“...you have a family that despite all your faults, have been there and have supported you. They’ve only wanted your love and acceptance. Instead, you’ve pissed it away always thinking you’re some great and mighty man. But I bet when you are alone at night, you are as lonely as I am. You are no different than me, Luke.

But I am better than you. Haunted by pains I could not control, losing my family was a price I paid for a service that I did for my country. You? You lost your family as a price that you paid for a service that you only did for yourself and no one else. This is what makes me a better man than you and will always make me a better man than you.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“So is the author saying that if we allow ourselves, despair can eat us alive?”

“Yeah. He’s trying to tell us that we all struggle. The sun will continue to rise regardless of whether we want to help ourselves or not. It’s up to us to see if we can get ourselves out of our own despair. We can shake off our own self-doubt to find the strength to move on. We’re capable. We need to believe that we can.”

“I guess nothing is more wasteful than idle men, frozen to do nothing because they’re too afraid to try, huh?”

“Exactly. Doubt and fear have killed more dreams than failure ever has.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Doubt and Despair,” Mr. Hinkle said. “Two best friends that hold onto you for dear life and refuse to let go.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I have one more gift for you,” Noah said, pulling out a small package, wrapped in simple Kraft paper.

Opening it, Arie found an old copy of A.A. Milne’s Winne the Pooh.

“It’s a first edition. I hope you’ll read it to our kids one day. You can even tell them the story about how a Princess had a picnic with Pooh and his friends at a castle on an island.”

She beamed. At that very moment, she couldn’t love him more, even if she tried.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I took the other one back,” he said. “I couldn’t stand for you to wear something on your finger associated with bad memories. So I got you a different one. You are the diamond in the center; the center of my universe. Everything I have, everything I do, and everything that I am revolving around you; for all eternity. Please, marry me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“He pulled out the little pink pig and handed him to her with an identical card to the ones she’d been carrying. She opened the card and read it out loud.

‘Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.’

[Pooh thought for a little.]

‘How old shall I be then?’

‘Ninety-nine.’

[Pooh nodded.]

‘I promise. If you live to be 100, I want to live to be 100 minus one day so I never have to live without you.’

“Promise me,” Noah said.

Arie looked up.

“Promise me that you will allow me to live to be one hundred minus one day with you so that I never have to live without you.”

Arie looked down at the card, and then down at Piglet, and then at Noah. And then at Piglet again.

What is tied to Piglet’s bow?

“Oh my goodness,” she gasped.

“Marry me, Arie. I’m asking you again. Please. Be my wife.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book