Quotes by Markus Zusak

Im always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. Still, they have one thing I envy. Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.

I actually feel quite self-indulgent at the moment, telling you all about me, me, me.(...) On the other hand, youre a human -you should understand self obsession.

You cant eat books, sweetheart.

In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water.

But then, is there cowardice in the acknowledgment of fear? Is there cowardice in being glad that you lived?

Whoever named Himmel Street certainly had a healthy sense of irony. Not that is was a living hell. It wasnt. But is sure as hell wasnt heaven, either.

If you cant imagine it, think clumsy silence. Think bits and pieces of floating despair. And drowning in a train.

If nothing else, they died fast and they were warm. The boy from the plane, I thought. The one with the teddy bear. Where was Rudys confort? Where was someone to alleviate this robbery of his life? Who was there to soothe him as lifes rug was snatched from under his sleeping feet?

... because a fights worth nothing if you know from the start that youre going to win it. Its the ones in between that test you. Theyre the ones that bring questions with them.

And youre Cameron Wolfe. That gotta start meaning somethin boy. Thats gotta start churnin inside us, making us wanna be someone for those names, and not just another couple of guys who amounted to nothin but what people said we would. No way. Were getting out of that. We have to. Were gonna crawl and moan and fight and bite and bark at anything that gets in our way or tries to hunt us down and shoot us. All right?

Why do they have windows? Is it to let a glimpse of the world in? Or for us to see out? Our own place is small perhaps, but when your old man is eaten up by his own shadow, you realize maybe that in every house, something so savage and sad and brilliant is standing up, without the world even seeing it. Maybe thats what these pages of words are about. Bringing the world to the window.

That paper--it sits there, open at the employment section. It sits there like a war, and each small advertisement is another trench for a person to dive into. To hope and fight in.

The color of defeat chokes her pupils, even though her nod and smile and uncomfortable sitting motion on the couch indicate that she is not finished yet. She will carry on, like all of us. Smile stubborn. Smile with instinct, then lick your wounds in the darkest of corners. Trace the scars back to your own fingers and remember them.

It was the beginning of the greatest Christmas ever. Little food. No presents. But there was a snowman in their basement.

I dont leave a note.Theres nothing else to do. At first, Id wanted to write Merry Christmas on the box somewhere, but I decide against it. This isnt about words.Its about glowing lights and small things that are big.

An eleven-year-old girl is many things, but she is not stupid.

The dog next-door had settled down, and the neighbourhood seemed stunned by this event occurring in our backyard. It was like it could sense it. It could sense some form of tragedy and helplessness being played out, and to tell you the truth, it all surprised me. I was so used to things just going on, oblivious and ignorant to all feeling.

If someone wanted to be a runner, you dont tell them to think about running, you tell them to run. And the same simple idea applies to writing, I hope.

Its not so much that the old friend is a better friend. Its just that you know the person better, and you know they dont really care if youre acting like a poor, grovelling idiot. They know you would do the same for them.

Rudy handed it back. Speaking of which, I think were both slightly in for it when we get home. You especially.Why me?You know- your mama.What about her? Liesel was exercising the blatant right of every person whos ever belonged to a family. Its all very well for such a person to whine and moan and criticize other family members, but they wont let anyone else do it. Thats when you get your back up and show loyalty.