Quotes from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was the ability to think with critical objectivity”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“I’m not going to let go of you. I’m going to hold you all night. So go ahead and feel whatever you feel. If you’re still craving cocaine, go ahead. You’re safe. You can crave it all you want, but I won’t let go, and if you still feel like you can’t trust yourself in the morning, and it’s what you want, I’ll drive you to rehab myself. Okay?" ~ Max”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Max's scarred brow crinkled. He reached for the coffee mug on his desk. “Motive is tricky. See, what might be a good reason for me to kill someone might not be a good enough reason for you to kill someone."

Swift stared at his hands loosely clasped around his ankle. “I wouldn't. Deliberately hurt anyone."

"And my impulse is to hurt anyone who hurts you.” When Swift's gaze lifted to his, Max said, “See how that works?"

He did, and while it wasn't intended as a compliment, it did warm his heart in a funny way. He managed to joke, “Why, I think that's the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“To calm himself he mentally recited Wilfred J.Funk's 1932 list of "most beautiful words." It was his mantra on restless nights like these. Ten words that generally knocked him unconscious if he concentrated on them hard enough.
Melody.
Golden.
Chimes.
Luminous.
Mist.
Tranquil.
Murmuring.
Lullaby.
Hush.
Dawn...”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“They kissed, but it was a gentle kiss and there was no urgency. They were tired and they were...healing. They had time. And time was the most beautiful word of all.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Why do you think they don’t like me? They hired me for God’s sake. It’s not like there was any mystery about my history.”
“I heard you used iambic pentameter once when you should have used a catalexis.”
“Huh?”
“Believe me, whatever the reason is, it will make as much sense.”
Swift thought this over. Max was probably right, but it was still a weird, unhappy feeling. His mouth curved. “Do you really know what catalexis is?”
“Not a clue. I heard you mention it once. It stuck in my memory because it sounds like a cross between a Cadillac and a Lexus.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“People did terrible things to each other- and half the time they did it by accident.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Time and tide. Love had its own circadian rhythms, and it was beginning to look like he and Max had missed their chance, that they'd slipped into a comfortable somnolence. Perhaps they would continue on indefinitely, but it was all too likely one of these days they were simply going to drift gently, quietly apart.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“He woke with Max's arms wrapped around his torso and Max's genitals soft against his ass. And for the first time in days he wasn't aware of wanting anything but breakfast. Breakfast and Max. Not necessarily in that order.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“A lot of kids are shocked at the idea of people over thirty having sex." (Max)”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Do you really know what catalexis is?"
"Not a clue. I heard you mention it once. It stuck in my memory because it sounds like a cross between a Cadillac and a Lexus.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“There are few things in this life more bamboo-under-fingernails than good poetry read aloud badly-unless it is bad poetry read aloud badly.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Just close your eyes and relax."
Gratefully, Swift closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on nothing more than the feel of Max's hand rubbing his back. Such a simple, uncomplicated pleasure, that of touch. Max smoothed the thin skin between Swift's shoulder blades.
"This is where your wings used to be."
Swift expelled a half laugh, most of his attention fixed on the slow deliberate slide of Max's hand down his spine. Max's fingers brushed the final links of bone and cartilage."And that's where my tail used to be," Swift murmured.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Swift opened his eyes. "Your fingers are shaking."
Max nodded. "Adrenaline. It's pretty exciting seeing your friend's car get shot full of holes. Especially with your friend sitting inside."
Swift nodded too. "From my side too.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“He had firsthand knowledge of getting punched in the face, and it was an experience he didn't want to repeat.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

“Well, Hodge, wasn't the brightest candle on the birthday cake.”
― Josh Lanyon, quote from Come Unto These Yellow Sands

About the author

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BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.