“I felt I could turn the earth upside down with my littlest finger. I wanted to dance, to fly in the air and kiss the sun and stars with my singing heart. I, alone with myself, was enjoying myself for the first time as with grandest company.”
― Anzia Yezierska, quote from Bread Givers
“There is justice nowhere for a fool. A fool they whip even in the Holy Temple.”
― Anzia Yezierska, quote from Bread Givers
“The stars in their infinite peace seemed to pour their healing light into me. I thought of captives in prison, the sick and the suffering from the beginning of time who had looked to these stars for strength. What was my little sorrow to the centuries of pain which those stars had watched? So near they seemed, so compassionate. My bitter hurt seemed to grow small and drop away. If I must go on alone, I should still have silence and the high stars to walk with me.”
― Anzia Yezierska, quote from Bread Givers
“Beloved, Dearest One:
How I long to shout to the world our happiness. I feel that you and I are the only two people alive in the world - the only people that know the secret meaning of existence.
I have no diamond rings, no gifts of love that other lovers have for their beloved. My poetry is all I have to offer you. And so I dedicate my collected verses, 'Poems of Poverty,' to you, beloved.
Morris.”
― Anzia Yezierska, quote from Bread Givers
“Ik denk dat de tijd volkomen stilstaat en dat ik me erin beweeg, soms langzaam en soms met razende snelheid. Ik zit aan de tafel en de tijd staat stil. Ik kan hem niet zien, niet ruiken en niet horen maar hij omringt me aan alle kanten. Zijn stilte en zijn onbeweeglijkheid zijn verschrikkelijk. Ik spring op, ren het huis uit en probeer hem te ontvluchten. Ik ga iets doen, de dingen eisen mijn aandacht op en ik vergeet de tijd. En dan, heel plotseling, is hij weer om me heen. Misschien sta ik voor het huis naar de kraaien te kijken en daar is hij weer, immaterieel en stil, en hij houdt ons vast, de wei, de kraaien en mij. Ik zal aan hem moeten wennen, aan zijn onverschilligheid en zijn alomtegenwoordigheid.”
― Marlen Haushofer, quote from The Wall
“Dickinson left the rostrum to applause, loud shouts of approval. Franklin was surprised, looked toward Adams, who returned the look, shook his head. The chamber was dismissed, and Franklin pushed himself slowly up out of the chair. He began to struggle a bit, pain in both knees, the stiffness holding him tightly, felt a hand under his arm.
“Allow me, sir.” Adams helped him up, commenting as he did so, “We have a substantial lack of backbone in this room, I’m afraid.”
Franklin looked past him, saw Dickinson standing close behind, staring angrily at Adams, reacting to his words.
“Mr. Dickinson, a fine speech, sir,” said Franklin.
Adams seemed suddenly embarrassed, did not look behind him, nodded quickly to Franklin, moved away toward the entrance. Franklin saw Dickinson following Adams, began to follow himself. My God, let’s not have a duel. He slipped through the crowd of delegates, making polite acknowledgments left and right, still keeping his eye on Dickinson. The man was gone now, following Adams out of the hall. Franklin reached the door, could see them both, heard the taller man call out, saw Adams turn, a look of surprise. Franklin moved closer, heard Adams say, “My apologies for my indiscreet remark, sir. However, I am certain you are aware of my sentiments.” Dickinson seemed to explode in Adams’ face. “What is the reason, Mr. Adams, that you New England men oppose our measures of reconciliation? Why do you hold so tightly to this determined opposition to petitioning the king?” Franklin heard other men gathering behind him, filling the entranceway, Dickinson’s volume drawing them. He could see Adams glancing at them and then saying, “Mr. Dickinson, this is not an appropriate time...” “Mr. Adams, can you not respond? Do you not desire an end to talk of war?” Adams seemed struck by Dickinson’s words, looked at him for a long moment. “Mr. Dickinson, if you believe that all that has fallen upon us is merely talk, I have no response. There is no hope of avoiding a war, sir, because the war has already begun. Your king and his army have seen to that. Please, excuse me, sir.” Adams began to walk away, and Franklin could see Dickinson look back at the growing crowd behind him, saw a strange desperation in the man’s expression, and Dickinson shouted toward Adams, “There is no sin in hope!”
― Jeff Shaara, quote from Rise to Rebellion
“He touches my body but he tears at my soul, ripping pieces out of me that are now his and his alone.”
― J.M. Darhower, quote from Monster in His Eyes
“You can't go on all the time being whatever's necessary. You've got to have some conviction, and I'm convinced I don't want to be anyone's underdog. It's not right for anyone to be that. But once you get used to it, well, it just seems natural and you just carry on. And that's the end of you. You're trapped.”
― Tsitsi Dangarembga, quote from Nervous Conditions
“You'll find, my friend, that what you love will take you places you never dreamed you'd go.”
― Tony Kushner, quote from Angels in America
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