Top Ten Favorite Quotes From Books

When I took English in High School and even throughout university, I was all about finding useable quotes to plunk into my papers.  I find that often someone else has said something that proves your point in a better way than you ever can.  That is probably why their stuff got published.

I wish I could say I am one of those people who writes down and saves quotable quotes.  But really, I am not.  I read them, say, “wow that is awesome” and move on.  So, when I saw that this week’s Top Ten Tuesday with the Broke and the Bookish is my Top Ten Favorite Quotes From Books.  I first said, “wow, awesome,” followed quickly by an “oh dear.”

With a bunch of research, I have managed to rediscover some of my favorite quotes that I recalled from authors or books or a few words and then searched around until I found them.  It was actually quite fun!

“Matilda said, ‘Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable…'” –Matilda by Roald Dahl

“When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”  -Morrie Schwartz as quoted in Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

“Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever.”  –On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler Ross

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:7

“A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbol means nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not. As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure intentions to help us see.” –Marley & Me by John Grogan

“Laughter is sunshine; it chases winter from the human face.  –Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

“‘Ten good lines out of four hundred, Emily—comparatively good, that is—and all the rest balderdash—balderdash, Emily.’  ‘I—suppose so,’ said Emily faintly.  Her eyes brimmed with tears—her lips quivered. She could not help it. Pride was hopelessly submerged in the bitterness of her disappointment. She felt exactly like a candle that somebody had blown out. […]  ‘No good! Didn’t I tell you there were ten good lines? Jade, for ten righteous men Sodom had been spared.  ‘Do you mean—that—after all—’ The candle was being relighted again.  ‘Of course, I mean. If at thirteen you can write ten good lines, at twenty you’ll write ten times ten—if the gods are kind. Stop messing over months, though—and don’t imagine you’re a genius, either, if you have written ten decent lines. I think there’s something trying to speak through you—but you’ll have to make yourself a fit instrument for it. You’ve got to work hard and sacrifice—by gad, girl, you’ve chosen a jealous goddess. And she never lets her votaries go—not even when she shuts her ears forever to their plea.’”  – Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery

“Here’s some advice. Stay alive.” –Haymitch in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

“Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.”  Papa (God) in The Shack by William P. Young

“You’re off to Great Places!  Today is your day!  Your mountain is waiting.  So… get on your way!”  –Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

I could go on and on.  The more I looked up, them more quotes I found that I love.

What are some of your favorite quotes from books?