“Why didn't he say goodbye?
I gave myself a bruise.
Why didn't he say 'I love you'?”

Si on me presse de dire pourquoi je l'aimais, je sens que cela ne se peut exprimer qu'en répondant: parce que c'était lui; parce que c'était moi.
Variants: If a man urge me to tell wherefore I loved him, I feel it cannot be expressed but by answering: Because it was he, because it was myself.
If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed, than by making answer: because it was he, because it was I.
Book I, Ch. 28
Essais (1595), Book I
Source: The Complete Essays

Source: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Song lyrics, Amarantine (2005)

Source: The Book Thief

Source: The Geometry of Sisters

Rent (1996)

Source: The Key

Source: Rigante series, Stormrider, Ch. 6