9 Quotes by Deon Meyer

Ik wilde haar weer horen lachen. Sterker nog: ik wilde de lach uit haar tevoorschijn toveren, ik wilde de reden zijn waarom die melodie gespeeld werd, want het was de klank van geluk, van tevredenheid, van alles wat goed en mooi was in de wereld.

Long story short, I have always been fascinated by how we absolutely need to be in a relationship. I mean, it consumes us, that need, that terrible need to be loved, to be with someone.

We are starting a sanctuary, a community that will have justice, wisdom, moderation and courage…”“It’s from Plato,” said Pa. “From The Republic.”“I see,” said Hennie, in a tone that revealed he had no idea what Pa was talking about.

Years later I realised he left sex out when he came to Maslow’s list of physiological needs. I don’t blame him.

Who’s going to rob a black man on a bicycle?

Hennie read the last lines of the pamphlet: “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”“That’s Emma Lazarus,” said Pa.“Is that her up there?” asked Hennie and pointed at Melinda Swanevelder in the Volvo.Pa said no, Emma Lazarus was an American poet. She wrote the poem that is engraved on the Statue of Liberty. The woman in the cab is Melinda Swanevelder. We found her in Vanderkloof.

…En wat is dit dié? Duitse owner van ʼn boereplaas met ʼn Franse naam waar ʼn Brit gekidnap is. Fucking United Nations of Crime, dis wat ons nou word.

We remember the moments of fear, loss and humiliation most vividly.

To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain for ever a child. For what is the value of a human life, unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history?