A Thread of Grace Quotes

“When the preponderance of human beings choose to act with justice and generosity and kindness, then learning and love and decency prevail. When the preponderance of human beings choose power, greed, and indifference to suffering, the world is filled with war, poverty, and cruelty.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“No matter how dark the tapestry God weaves for us, there's always a thread of grace.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“The world is filled with unreasonable hate. What's wrong with unreasonable love?”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“You know what I think? Ten percent of any group of human beings are shitheads. Catholics, Jews. Germans, Italians. Pilots, priests. Teachers, doctors, shopkeepers. Ten percent are shitheads. Another ten percent -- salt of the earth! Saints! Give you the shirts off their backs. Most people are in the middle, just trying to get by.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“There's a saying in Hebrew, 'No matter how dark the tapestry God weaves for us, there's always a thread of grace.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Shall I tell you why young men love war? . . . In peace, there are a hundred questions with a thousand answers! In war, there is only one question with one right answer. . . . Going to war makes you a man. It is emotionally exciting and morally restful.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“God save us from idealists! They dream of a world without injustice, and what crime won't they commit to get it! I swear, Mirella, I'll settle for a world with good manners.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Distressing to be hated because of lies, isn't it." (Mirella)
"Especially when there are so many legitimate reasons to be hated." (Schramm)”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“...and yet, in the end, did Klara Hitler's sickly son ever fire a gun? One hollow, hateful little an. One last awful thought: all the harm he ever did was done for him by others.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Whenever we said ‘they,’ Mama told us to name two.” Claudette divides the lump of cheese, handing half to Albert. “Mama said if you can’t name two actual real people, then you’re just being prejudiced. So name two peasants who hate us.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“War smashes all our petty problems and sweeps the shards into one huge, patriotic pile.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“I suppose I should warn you, Padre. In the absence of male supervision, my mother has become a revolutionary." ~Renzo Leoni”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“When the preponderance of human beings choose power, greed, and indifference to suffering, the world is filled with war, poverty, and cruelty. Bombs do not drop from God’s hand. Triggers are not pulled by God’s finger. Each of us chooses, one by one, and God’s eye does not turn from those who suffer or from those who inflict suffering. Our choices are weighed. And, thus, the nations are judged.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Mama said if you can’t name two actual real people, then you’re just being prejudiced. So name two peasants who hate us.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“He would turn our selfish, despicable fear into a kind of glorious selflessness if we obeyed him, if we dedicated our lives to the Reich. If our blood was pure.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Svevo? Like Balli,”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Put ordinary shitheads in impressive uniforms, give them guns and permission to use them, they’ll shoot anyone who threatens their illusions”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“I still have a headache powder saved up,”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“One hollow, hateful little man. One last awful thought: all the harm he ever did was done for him by others.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“It is a kind of rape.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace

“Never underestimate how soothing it is to have someone else to blame.”
― Mary Doria Russell, A Thread of Grace