48 Quotes by Thanhha Lai

Everyone knows the ship could sink, unable to hold the piles of bodies that keep crawling on like raging ants from a disrupted nest. But no one is heartless enough to say stop because what if they had been stopped before their turn?

I hate being told I can't do something because I'm a girl!

Then by chance Mother learnssponsors prefer thosewhose applications say, "Christians."Just like thatMother amends our faith,saying all beliefsare pretty much the same.

How can we scramble away like rats, without honor, without dignity, when everyone must help rebuild the country?

No, Mr. Johnston doesn't have a horse, nor has he ever ridden one. What kind of a cowboy is he?

We glide and I feel as if I'm floating.

Mostly, I wish I were still smart.

Mother wants to sell the amethyst ring Father brought back from America,where he trainedin the navybefore I was born.She wants to buy needles and thread, fabric and sandalsfrom the camp'sblack market.I have never seen herwithout this purple rock.I can't fall asleep unless I twist the ringand count circles.Brother Quang says, NO!What's the point of new shirts and sandalsif you lose the last tangible remnant of love?I don't understand what he saidbut I agree.

Mother says, People share when they know they have escaped hunger. Shouldn’t people share because there is hunger?