Quotes by Jodi Picoult

I am not a religious man. I have not attended a service for many years. But I do believe in God. My own practice of religion, you could say, it a nonpractice. I personally feel that its just as worthy on a weekend to rake the lawns of an elderly neighbor or to climb a mountain and marvel at the beauty of this land we live in as it is to sing hosannas or go to Mass. In other words, I think every many finds his own church- and not all of them have four walls - Judge Haig (Page 399)

Somewhere along the line, organized religion stopped being about faith, and started being about who had the power to keep the faith. You said that the purpose of religion was to bring people together. But does it, really? Or does it-knowingly, purposefully, and intentionally--break them apart?

I may not have a degree, but I certainly got an education.

You can argue that its a different world now than the one when Matthew Shepard was killed, but there is a subtle difference between tolerance and acceptance. Its the distance between moving into the cul-de-sac and having your next door neighbor trust you to keep an eye on her preschool daughter for a few minutes while she runs out to the post office. Its the chasm between being invited to a colleagues wedding with your same-sex partner and being able to slow-dance without the other guests whispering.

The first time someone I loved left me behind...I didnt know how my family would balance. We had been such a sturdy little end table, four solid legs. I was sure we would now be off-kilter, always unstable. Until one day I looked more closely, and realized that we had simply become a stool.

I lean against my sisters shoulder. I thought lightning wasnt supposed to strike in the same place twice.Sure it does, Izzy tells me. But only if youre too dumb to move.

males conspicuously leaving their mark to let others know where they werent welcome.

because in the past words have only driven them apart.

We make messes of our lives, but every now and then, we manage to do something thats exactly right. The challenge is figuring out which is which.

The person may have a scar, but it also means they have a story

be a good listener, dont judge and dont put boundaries on someone elses grief.

Sometimes it made her want to put her fist through glass; other times, it made her cry a river.

There should be a statute of limitation on grief. A rulebook that says it is all right to wake up crying, but only for a month. That after 42 days you will no longer turn with your heart racing, certain you have heard her call out your name. That there will be no fine imposed if you feel the need to clean out her desk; take down her artwork from the refrigerator; turn over a school portrait as you pass - if only because it cuts you fresh again to see it. That its okay to measure the time she has been gone, the way we once measured her birthdays.

And if you dont find what youre looking for?At Roys question Addie looked up.Then all Ive lost is time.

Objection! Metz shouts.Grounds? the judge asks.Well...hes my witness!

Shed been in labor for nineteen hours; I completely understood why she wanted to pass the buck. You are so beautiful, her husband crooned, holding up her shoulders.You are so full of shit, Lila snarled, but as a contraction settled over her like a net, she bore down and pushed.

Lawyers were notorious for finding cases in the most unlikely places, especially ones with huge potential damagers awards.

The Lord turned water into wine. All Im suggesting is a trip to the grocery store.

A robber? In the trash bins? Honestly, Wes. This is Salem Falls, not the set of Law and Order.

Youd be surprised. Charlie said.You go to bed one night singing her a lullaby, and she wakes up listening to Limp Bizkit.What the hell is Limp Bizkit?