The best writers create stories that linger in the mind. Some people look at the prose, while others focus on the format and style it was written in. And still, others praise how an author harnesses words to make powerful sentences.
From a catchy opening line to a clever bit of dialogue, literature is littered with sentences and phrases that have become iconic to people. They stick to your mind, leaving you contemplating even long after you turn the final page.
Best Quotes From Books You Love
Literature has always been a treasure trove of meaningful and timeless quotes that apply to practically everything. These iconic strings of words are nuggets of gold swimming in a sea of silver text.
From new or old, fiction or non-fiction, below are some of the best quotes you’ll read from the books you love.
1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.”
3. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
4. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
“A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well — or ill?”
5. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
“This above all: To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
7. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”
8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
“Anything worth dying for is certainly worth living for.”
9. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.”
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
11. The Round House by Louise Erdrich
“Now that I knew fear, I also knew it was not permanent. As powerful as it was, its grip on me would loosen. It would pass.”
12. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
“Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”
13. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
“Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”
14. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
15. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
16. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
17. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
18. 1984 by George Orwell
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
19. Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
“Why, sometimes, I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
20. Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
“When you can’t find someone to follow, you have to find a way to lead by example.”
21. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
“We all require devotion to something more than ourselves for our lives to be endurable.”
22. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
“It was all very well to be ambitious, but ambition should not kill the nice qualities in you.”
Wisdom From Literature
Books have a lot to say, some of which the author didn’t even intend to tell. They take a life of their own, shaped by the writer’s experiences and the reader’s perspectives. As such, you’ll find many books that not only relay facts and information but also insights and guidance.
Think back on your favorite novel. There’s likely a phrase or an action that stuck to you while reading. It might have even affected how you viewed the world, molding your own morals and standards. In this, books are like friends you can always turn to for advice.
Just look at how Spider-man popularized the adage “With great power comes great responsibility.” It’s been deeply ingrained in popular culture, inspiring not only Peter Parker but also legions of fans worldwide.
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
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- 15 Ernest Hemingway Quotes on Life, Death, and Writing
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
