Quotes about back
page 19

“It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”

Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born physicist and founder of the theory of relativity

Source: The World As I See It

Lauren Slater (1963) American psychologist

“Having faith in God did not mean sitting back and doing nothing. It meant believing you would find success if you did your best honestly and energetically.”

Ken Follett book The Pillars of the Earth

Source: The Pillars of the Earth

Faith, God, Faith, Success

“Enna leaned back her head and laughed at the sky. 'Of course he wasn't! Who could kill Razo?”

Shannon Hale Forest Born

Source: Forest Born

“We truly believed in something back then, and we knew we were the kind of people capable of believing in something - with all our hearts. And that kind of hope will never simply vanish.”

Haruki Murakami book Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Source: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Hope, People, Hope, Heart

“The only way I can pay back for what fate and society have handed me is to try, in minor totally useless ways, to make an angry sound against injustice.”

Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998) journalist from the United States

Letter as quoted in "Gellhorn: A Twentieth Century Life" (2003) written by Caroline Moorehead, pg. 142.

Fate, Way

“The wind always brings us back to the same wall”

Joanne Harris book Chocolat

Source: Chocolat

“I felt myself trapped in line for a ride I was not nearly ready for, looking back but moving forward in the only direction I could go.”

Elizabeth Berg (1948) American novelist

Source: The Year of Pleasures

“Do not fear so, here is one who would be a blade at your back. A shield across your breast. Here is kin, here is strength to lean upon, to share as you share in need.”

Andre Norton (1912–2005) American writer of science fiction and fantasy

Fear

“In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.”

Philip Yancey book The Jesus I Never Knew

Source: The Jesus I Never Knew

God, Family

“I go back to my room and lie under the covers, trying not to think of Gale and thinking of nothing else.”

Suzanne Collins book Catching Fire

Source: Catching Fire

Lie, Thinking

“The more credit you give away, the more will come back to you. The more you
help others, the more they will want to help you.”

Brian Tracy (1944) American motivational speaker and writer

Help

“If I ever saw my muse she would be an old woman with a tight bun and spectacles poking me in the middle of the back and growling, "Wake up and write the book!”

Kerry Greenwood (1954) Australian crime writer

Books

“What I saw was more than I could stand. The noise I heard had been made by Little Ann. All her life she had slept by Old Dan's side. And although he was dead, she had left the doghouse, had come back to the porch, and snuggled up by his side.”

Wilson Rawls book Where the Red Fern Grows

Source: Where the Red Fern Grows

Life, Dead

“I don't like it, but my hands are tied. I just want you to know this: if I ever get the chance to betray you, I will. If the opportunity arises to pay you back, I'll take it. You'll never be able to trust me.”

Darren Shan book Cirque du Freak

Source: A Living Nightmare

Chance

“Magic was singing in me, through me; I felt the murmur of his power singing back that same song.”

Naomi Novik book Uprooted

Source: Uprooted

Singing

“But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better.
-Jing-mei”

Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club

Source: The Joy Luck Club

Way

“[Roland] jerked back too fast to see, and his fist was suddenly connecting with my chin. I didn't pass out, but my body went limp. Part of me was screaming silently. The other part was saying, 'Oh, what pretty trees.”

Laurell K. Hamilton book Blue Moon

Source: Blue Moon

Jerk, Tree, Parting

“There is a tiger in my room,' said Frances.
'Did he bite you?' said Father.
'No,' said Frances.
'Did he scratch you?' said Mother.
'No,' said Frances.
'Then he is a friendly tiger,' said Father. 'He will not hurt you. Go back to sleep.”

Russell Hoban (1925–2011) American British novelist, children's writer and illustrator

Source: Bedtime for Frances

Sleep, Hurt

“molesting the vampire while he's too weak to fight back, iz? jace asked. i'm pretty sure that violates at least one of the accords.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Glass

Source: City of Glass

Fight

“There was no closing my eyes and sliding back into that blissful dream of normal. This was my normal now.”

Kelley Armstrong The Awakening

Source: The Awakening

Dreams

“Say it," she said.
"Say it sober."
"I love you," he said.
"I don't want you to say it back unless you mean it, but I love you."
She leaned back over him, and pressed the pads of her fingertips against his.
"I mean it.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Heavenly Fire

Source: City of Heavenly Fire

Love

“You'll get back to where you came from.”

William Golding book Lord of the Flies

Source: Lord of the Flies

“It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you are
not.”

Denis Waitley (1933) American writer

Thinking

“I looked back and forth at them in amazement. I didn't know if I was witnessing a fight or foreplay. I wasn't thrilled about either option.”

Richelle Mead book Last Sacrifice

Source: Last Sacrifice

Fight

“I can't go back because I lost all my Soul Reaper powers! - Rukia
You lost your powers? What are they, socks? - Ichigo”

Tite Kubo (1977) Japanese manga artist

Source: Bleach, Volume 01

Soul

“Then she lay on her back and gazed at the cloudless sky. Mr. Beebe, whose opinion of her rose daily, whispered to his niece that that was the proper way to behave if any little thing went wrong.”

E.M. Forster book A Room with a View

Source: A Room with a View

Way

“This is my driver,’ Nico said. ‘Jules-Albert finished first in the Paris–Rouen motorcar race back in 1895, but he wasn’t awarded the prize because his steam car used a stoker.”

Rick Riordan book The Blood of Olympus

Source: The Blood of Olympus

Cars

“Basically, men are afraid of women and can't handle the fact that they came out of the same thing they spend the rest of their lives trying to get back into.”

Henry Rollins (1961) American singer-songwriter

Source: Solipsist (1998)

Women, Men

“When people make a contract with the devil and give him an air-conditioned office to work in, he doesn't go back home easily.”

James Lee Burke (1936) Novelist, short story writer

Source: In the Electric Mist With Confederate Dead

Back To Work, People, Home

“I want my best friend back, she thinks, because without him nothing is good and nothing is right.”

David Nicholls book One Day

Source: One Day

Thinking

“In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.”

Niccolo Machiavelli book The Prince

Source: The Prince

“I'm starting to understand that fear is like cancer - you can beat it back, but if it returns, it can be worse than ever.”

Darren Shan Slawter

Source: Slawter

Fear, Understanding

“Can I come back and see you sometime?"
"Long as you bring me some chocolate," Gramma said, and smiled. "I'm partial to chocolate."
"Gramma, you're diabetic."
"I'm old, girl. Gonna die of something. Might as well be chocolate.”

Rachel Caine (1962) American writer

Source: The Dead Girls' Dance

Smile, Girl

“Whenever she thought she could not feel more alone, the universe peeled back another layer of darkness.”

Janet Fitch (1955) American writer

Source: Paint it Black

Feeling, Universe

“The lower you fall, the higher you'll fly. The farther you run, the more God wants you back.”

Chuck Palahniuk Fight Club

Variant: The lower you fall, the higher you'll fly.
Source: Fight Club

God, Flying

“The past can be a terrible weight bound to you by an unbreakable chain. You can drag it with you, forever looking over your shoulder at what holds you back. Or you can let it go and move forward. It’s your choice.”

Raymond E. Feist book Shards of a Broken Crown

Source: Shards of a Broken Crown

Past

“Oh yes. Draw your hem back from my mud, little sister.”

Philippa Gregory book The Other Boleyn Girl

Source: The Other Boleyn Girl

Sister, Drawing

“If you're in the room, I want to be next to you. If you're gone, I think about you. You're who I want to talk to. In a fight, I want you at my back. When we're together the sun is shining. When we're apart, everything is in shades of gray.”

James Patterson (1947) American author

Source: Fang

Thinking, Sun, Fight

“She's really gone, then. The little girl with the back of her shirt sticking out like a duck tail”

Suzanne Collins book Mockingjay

Source: Mockingjay

Girl

“A friend of mine once sent me a post card with a picture of the entire planet Earth taken from space. On the back it said, 'Wish you were here.”

Steven Wright (1955) American actor and author

“I will draw you back to me. You shall see. By a chain of stars.”

Tanith Lee Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer

Source: Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer

Star, Drawing

“I have a whole guard room full of brawny veterans who'd enjoy a chance to drag two Eddisians out of here, particularly if you kicked a lot and they could kick you back.”

Megan Whalen Turner The King of Attolia

Source: The King of Attolia

Chance

“All the time you spend tryin to get back what's been took from you there's more goin out the door. After a while you just try and get a tourniquet on it.”

Cormac McCarthy book No Country for Old Men

Source: No Country for Old Men (2005)

Time

“Back to prison. Maybe if you fake a heart attack, I can make a break for it. (Rose Hathaway says to Lissa Dragomir)”

Richelle Mead Vampire Academy

Source: Vampire Academy

Heart

“It was very pleasant to savor its aroma, for smells have the power to evoke the past, bringing back sounds and even other smells that have no match in the present. -Tita”

Laura Esquivel book Like Water for Chocolate

Source: Like Water for Chocolate

Past

“In a person's lifetime there may be not more than half a dozen occasions that he can look back to in the certain knowledge that right then, at that moment, there was room for nothing but happiness in his heart.”

Ernestine Gilbreth Carey book Belles on Their Toes

Source: Belles on Their Toes

Knowledge, Heart, Personality, Happiness

“My brain was all right back then; it didn't get stuck in ruts.”

Ned Vizzini book It's Kind of a Funny Story

Source: It's Kind of a Funny Story

“And girls need cold anger. They need the cold simmer, the ceaseless grudge, the talent to avoid forgiveness, the side stepping of compromise. They need to know when they say something that they will never back down, ever, ever.”

Gregory Maguire book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Source: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Girl, Forgiveness, Anger

“O God — please give him back! I shall keep asking You.”

John Irving book A Prayer for Owen Meany

Source: A Prayer for Owen Meany

God

“Security in a relationship lies neither in looking back to what it was in nostalgia, nor forward to what it might be in dread or anticipation, but living in the present relationship and accepting it as it is now.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh book Gift from the Sea

Source: Gift from the Sea

Nostalgia

“We are stardust,
We are golden,
And we’ve got to get ourselves
Back to the garden.”

Joni Mitchell (1943) Canadian musician

"Woodstock"
Songs
Variant: We are stardust
Billion-year old carbon
And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden
Source: Joni Mitchell: The Complete Poems and Lyrics

“And we must fight back! President Snow says he's sending us a message? Well, I have one for him. You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground, but do you see that? Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!”

Suzanne Collins book Mockingjay

Katniss (pp. 105-106)
Source: The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay (2010)
Context: "I want to tell the rebels that I am alive. That I'm right here in District Eight, where the Capitol has just bombed a hospital full of unarmed men, women, and children. There will be no survivors. [... ] I want to tell people that if you think for one second the Capitol will treat us fairly if there's a cease-fire, you're deluding yourself. Because you know who they are and what they do. [... ] This is what they do! And we must fight back! [... ] President Snow says he's sending us a message? Well, I have one for him. You can torture us and bomb us and burn our districts to the ground, but do you see that?" We're with the camera, tracking to the planes burning on the roof of the warehouse. Tight on the Capitol seal on a wing, which melts back into the image of my face, shouting at the president. "Fire is catching! And if we burn... you burn with us!"

Fight

“Age is terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back”

Sara Gruen book Water for Elephants

Source: Water for Elephants

Life, Age

“Me, I was still in the pygmy hippo in a skirt, singing lusty songs about Solomon's private life and a giant stone back and forth through the air as I climbed out of the quarry at the edge of the site.”

Jonathan Stroud book The Ring of Solomon

Source: The Ring of Solomon

Life, Singing

“Be careful what you give children, for sooner or later you are sure to get it back.”

Barbara Kingsolver book High Tide in Tucson

Source: High Tide in Tucson

Children

“I crawled back into myself all alone, just delighted to observe that I was even more miserable than before, because I had brought a new kind of distress and something that resembled true feeling into my solitude.”

Louis-ferdinand Céline book Journey to the End of the Night

Source: Journey to the End of the Night

Feeling, Solitude

“I was ripe ten years ago. Now I’m merely preserved, and before long I’ll be buried back in the orchard with the other pits.”

-Amanda to Jack”

Lisa Kleypas (1964) American writer

Source: Suddenly You

“backing down can become a way of life”

Oliver James (1953) British psychologist

Life, Way

“If you need to talk about your childhood, you’re safe with me. If you need to break into a million pieces, I’m right here, Lev. I’ll find them all, I’m good at details, and I’ll put you back together. You’re safe here.”

Christine Feehan American writer

Source: Water Bound

Childhood

“After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished?”

Kazuo Ishiguro The Remains of the Day

Source: The Remains of the Day

“All right," he said. "Since you ask so nicely."
"I wasn't asking."
"I'm aware of that. The sharp point in my back did make it clear.”

Rachel Caine (1962) American writer

Source: Bite Club

“I think best in a hot bath, with my head tilted back and my feet up high.”

Elizabeth Jane Howard (1923–2014) writer

Source: Mr. Wrong

Thinking

“Back to culture. Yes, actually to culture. You can’t consume much if you sit still and read books.”

Aldous Huxley book Brave New World

Variant: You can't consume much if you sit still and read books.
Source: Brave New World (1932), Ch. 3

Books, Reading

“His kisses were gifts. He kissed with everything he had, with power and passion and hunger and love. He held nothing back, giving everything, exposing everything.”

Sylvia Day (1973) American writer

Source: Reflected in You

Love, Hunger, Kiss, Passion

“You keep runnin that mouth and I'm goin to take you back there and screw you.”

Cormac McCarthy book No Country for Old Men

Source: No Country for Old Men

“Being kissed on the back
of the knee is a moth
at the windowscreen….”

Anne Sexton (1928–1974) poet from the United States

Source: Love Poems

Kiss

“Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in.”

Katherine Mansfield book Je ne parle pas français

"Je ne parle pas français," http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/mansfield/bliss/bliss.html#francais from Bliss and Other Stories (1920) <br class="br">Variant: I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy, and no one who intends to become a writer can afford to indulge in it. <br class="br">Context: I have made it a rule of my life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy, and no one who intends to become a writer can afford to indulge in it. You can't get it into shape; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in.

Life

“What's all this about yanking poor Magnus and Alec back from their vacation?" Isabelle demanded. "They have opera tickets!”

Cassandra Clare book City of Fallen Angels

Source: City of Fallen Angels

“She loves. And she doesn't know how to pull it back when you have to, because sometimes you sure as feck have to. Got to grab it up with both hands and pull it back before somebody turns into knives and uses it to cut you to pieces.”

Karen Marie Moning (1964) author

Source: Iced

Love

“Then the two friends leaned back and watched the sun rise clear of the trees.
“Best time of day,” said Will.
Yes,” Horace agreed. “What’s for breakfast?”

John Flanagan (1873–1938) Irish-American hammer thrower

Source: Erak's Ransom

Tree, Time, Sun

“As I look back on my own life, I recognize this simple truth: The greatest opportunities were the scariest lions. Part of me has wanted to play it safe, but I’ve learned that taking no risks is the greatest risk of all.”

Mark Batterson (1969) American pastor and writer

Source: In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars

Life, Truth, Learning, Parting

“The big reason why folks leave a small town,' Rant used to say, 'is so they can moon over the idea of going back. And the reason they stay put is so they can moon about getting out.'

Rant meant that no one is happy, anywhere.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Rant

Source: Rant

Idea, Happiness

“Al was standing a bare three feet away, his mood almost jovial as he took the paper and it vanished in a wash of black sparkles.

“Thank you, Rachel,” he said, carefully reaching for my hand as Trent stiffened.

“Welcome back, my itchy witch.”

Kim Harrison (1966) Pseudonym

Source: A Perfect Blood

Mood

“You sound disappointed.” Shane’s voice came out faint and thready, and he put his head back against the cushions as he squeezed his eyes shut. “Damn, I hate this. I really do.”

I know,” Oliver said. “Your blood reeks of it.”

Rachel Caine (1962) American writer

Source: Last Breath

Hate, Disappointment

“I remember you saying that growing up happens when you start having things you look back on and wish you could change. I guess that means I've grown up now…”

Cassandra Clare book City of Ashes

Variant: I've screwed everything up royally. I remember you saying that growing up happens when you start having things you look back on and wish you could change.
Source: City of Ashes

Change

“God seems to have a kind of laid-back management style I’m not crazy about.”

David Foster Wallace book Infinite Jest

Source: Infinite Jest

God

“Land?' Froi whispered. 'You're giving them land? I'm not worth the valley.'

'You're worth a kingdom,' Finnikin said, turning back to the crowd.”

Melina Marchetta (1965) Australian teen writer

Source: Quintana of Charyn

“I dream a dream that dreams back at me”

Toni Morrison A Mercy

Source: A Mercy

Dreams

“I am still raw.
I say I may be back.
You know what lies are for.

Even in your Zen heaven we shan't meet.”

Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) American poet, novelist and short story writer

Source: Ariel: The Restored Edition

“We're taking back the night”

Karen Marie Moning (1964) author

Night

“I have been a friend to Shadowhunters. I know many of your families, going back for hundreds of years."
"There is nothing we can do to correct the questionable judgments of our ancestors," Lucian said.
Magnus hated this guy.”

Cassandra Clare (1973) American author

Source: The Last Stand of the New York Institute

Hate, Family, Guy, Question

“He wanted to be a poet,' someone else put in while Maggie hugged Tim and patted his back. 'Said he'd only lacked the words to be one.”

Nora Roberts (1950) American romance writer

Source: Born in Fire

“Doctor doctor, what do you say, lets put the id back in yid”

Philip Roth book Portnoy's Complaint

Source: Portnoy's Complaint

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…”

Peter Benchley book Jaws

Source: Jaws

Water

“Weirdly, an image of Adrian’s Love painting came back to me. I thought of the jagged red streak, slashing through the blackness, ripping it
apart. Staring at Jill and her inconsolable pain, I suddenly understood his art a little bit better.”

Richelle Mead Bloodlines

Source: Bloodlines

Love, Pain, Art, Painting

“If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was.”

Richard Bach (1936) American spiritual writer

Love

“… i didn't fall in love of course
it's never up to you
but she was walking back and forth
and i was passing through”

Leonard Cohen book Book of Longing

Source: Book of Longing

Love

“You are ugly now, on the inside, where it matters most, and if you ever lost your good looks, i bet you wouldn't be smart enough to get them back. Kyle Kingsbury, you are beastly.”

Alex Flinn book Beastly

Source: Beastly

“But if you can confront your inner demons—"

"I did confront my inner demon. I punched him in the face and he exploded."

Valkyrie had to laugh. "But now he's back."

"Of course he's back. He's resourceful. He isinner demon, after all.”

Derek Landy (1974) Irish children's writer

Source: Death Bringer

“Fortunate is the one who knows the name of their heart. They are the ones whose hearts are never truly lost. They can always call their heart back home.
Do you remember the name of your heart, Simon Lewis?”
“I think so,” Simon whispered.”

Cassandra Clare (1973) American author

Source: Bitter of Tongue

Home, Thinking, Heart

“What about Myrnin?'
Eve swallowed, almost choked, and Michael patted her kindly on the back. She beamed at him. 'Myrnin? Oh yeah. He did a Batman and took off into the night. What isthat guy, Claire? If he was a superhero, he'd be Bipolar Man.”

Rachel Caine (1962) American writer

Source: Lord of Misrule

Guy, Night

“Maktub,” she said. “If I am really part of your dream, you’ll come back one day.”

Paulo Coelho book The Alchemist

Fatima, p. 101; has also been quoted in slight variant: "If I am really part of your dream, you will come back one day."
Variant: If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day.
Source: The Alchemist (1988)

Dreams, Parting

“The angel brought you back."
"Because you asked him to. You could have anything alse in the world, and you asked for me."
"But I dont want anything else in the world. I love you. I would do it again. I would ask for you.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Glass

Source: City of Glass

Love, World, Angels