Quotes from Where the Heart Is

Billie Letts ·  376 pages

Rating: (215.8K votes)


“...tell them that we have some good in us, too. And the only thing worth living for is the good. That’s why we’ve got to make sure we pass it on.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Then tell them we've all got meanness in us...But tell them we have some good in us too. And the only thing worth living for is the good. That's why we've got to make sure we pass it on.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“You ever think about this? Every year you live, you pass the anniversary of your death. Now you don't know what day it is, of course.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“You're dying right now. Right this minute.' He looked at his watch, said, 'Right this second,' then tapped it with his finger. 'See there? That second passed. It's gone. Not gonna come again. And while I'm talking to you, every second I'm talking, a second is passing. Gone. Count them up. Count them down. They're gone. Each one bringing you closer to your dying time.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Tell them that our lives can change with every breath we take. Lord, we both know that. Tell them to let go of what's gone because men like roger Briscoe never win. And tell them to hold on like hell to what they've got- each other, and a mother who would die for them, and almost did.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is



“Never act like you want it, darlin'. Act like you wouldn't own it if they paid you. Tell them it's dirty, broken...a useless thing. Then make an offer.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Well, sometimes love seems easy. Like... it's easy to love rain... and hawks. And it's easy to love wild plums... and the moon. But with people, seems like love's a hard thing to know. It gets all mixed up. I mean, you can love one person in one way and another person in another way. But how do you know you love the right one in every way?"

"I'm not sure, but I think you'll know. I think if it's the right person, it'll be better than rain and hawks and wild plums. Even better than the moon. I think it'll be better than all that put together.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Our lives can change with every breath we take.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Come on, Forney.'
Novalee, it's a parasite.'
But it's a tradition.'
It's a parasite! And you expect people to stand under it and kiss?'
Yes! it's what people do with mistletoe.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Well, sometimes love seems easy. Like ... it's easy to love rain ... and hawks. And it's easy to love wild plums ... and the moon. But with people, seems like love's a hard thing to know. It gets all mixed up. I mean, you can love one person in one way and another person in another way. But how do you know you love the right one in every way?"

"I'm not sure, but I think you'll know. I think if it's the right person, it'll be better than rain and hawks and wild plums. Even better than the moon. I think it'll be better than all that put together.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is



“A man can't love you because you haven't read as many books as he has? He can't love you because you don't speak French or because you don't go to operas? You're telling me we have to fall in love with people who are just like us?”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“She always set three alarms for fear that the first employees to arrive would discover her sleeping - a Goldilocks without her bears”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“But if it's something you want, then time doesn't matter. Time doesn't matter at all.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Novalee watched his lips shape the words...the sounds, like whispered secrets, hanging in the air.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Home gives you something no other place can...your history...home is where your history begins.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is



“Awake, she struggled to fill the hours until she could sleep again. But nothing she did made her feel whole. If she ate, she didn't taste the food. If she read, she couldn't remember the words. If she rested, she still felt tired”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“The boy, a ten-year-old copy of the man...”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Novalee Nation, seventeen, seven months pregnant, thirty-seven pounds overweight – and superstitious about sevens – shifted uncomfortably in the seat of the old Plymouth and ran her hands down the curve of her belly.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Tell them our lives can change with every breath we take. Lord, we both know that. Tell them to let go of what's gone because men like Roger Briscoe never win. And, tell them to hold on like hell to what they've got, each other, and a mother who would die for them and almost did. Tell them we've all got meanness in us...
But tell them that we have some good in us, too. And, the only thing worth living for is the good. That's why we've got to make sure we pass it on.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“Only Certain offered no enticements, for she knew nothing could ease the pain. Not books or photography or food. Not even love.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is



“The money" The girl stiffened at something she heard in his voice, something jagged and sharp, like words torn by the blade of a knife.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“We’re alcoholics. We’re generally satisfied just to hurt ourselves.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


“the only thing worth living for is the good. That's why we've got to make sure we pass it on.”
― Billie Letts, quote from Where the Heart Is


About the author

Billie Letts
Born place: in Tulsa, Oklahoma, The United States
Born date May 30, 1938
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