And I Suppose That When The Circuitor Made Me Forgo My Dinner, That Was For The Same Reason.Exactly.

“And I suppose that when the circuitor made me forgo my dinner, that was for the same reason.” “Exactly. A way to humiliate you in front of the monks. I suspect that both moves backfired, by the way: neither reproof was justified, yet you accepted both gracefully. In fact you managed to look quite saintly.” “I didn’t do it for effect.” “Nor did the saints.”

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett  (via wholesomeobsessive)

“This is how Americans think. You believe that if something terrible happens to someone, they must have deserved it.” “I guess you’re right,” I said. “I guess it makes us feel safe.”

The Bean Trees (via persephones-fruit)

Here in these lives we’ve built for ourselves, here in these hard and glittering cities, none of this would seem real if it wasn’t for you.

Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven (via wholesomeobsessive)

Lou Ann hid a smile with her hand. ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ I could see perfectly well she was still smiling. 'Come on, what is it?’ 'It’s been so long,’ she said. 'You talk just like me.’

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver (via frazzlem0nster)

Between happiness and contentment? Ah, there you have me. It is not easy to put into words. Contentment is a state of mind and body when the two work in harmony, and there is no friction. The mind is at peace, and the body also. The two are sufficient to themselves. Happiness is elusive - coming perhaps once in a life-time - and approaching ecstasy.

Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier  (via wholesomeobsessive)

… Nobody feels sorry for anybody anymore, nobody even pretends they do. Not even the President. It’s like it’s become unpatriotic.

The Bean Trees (via kireii-hime)