Quotes from book
Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel by American writer Ray Bradbury, first published in 1953. Often regarded as one of his best works, the novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The book's tagline explains the title: "Fahrenheit 451 – the temperature at which book paper catches fire, and burns..." The lead character, Guy Montag, is a fireman who becomes disillusioned with his role of censoring literature and destroying knowledge, eventually quitting his job and committing himself to the preservation of literary and cultural writings.

“He wore his happiness like a mask and the girl had run off across the lawn with the mask and there was no way of going to knock on her door and ask for it back.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“I feel I'm doing what I should've done a lifetime ago.
For a little while I'm not afraid.
Maybe it's because I'm doing the right thing at last.
Maybe it's because I've done a rash thing and don't want to look the coward to you.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“There must me something in books, things we can't imagine.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Variant: There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house.
Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Those who don't build must burn. It's as old as history and juvenile delinquents.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Variant: Those who don't build must burn.
Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance, "I feel I've known you so many years?"
"Because I like you," she said, "and I don't want anything from you.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“She didn't want to know how a thing was done, but why…. Luckily, queer ones like her don't happen often.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Coloured people don't like. Burn it. White people don't feel good about. Burn it. Someone's written a book on tobacco and cancer of the lungs? The cigarette people are weeping? Burn the book.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Oh God, the terrible tyranny of the majority. We all have our harps to play. And it's up to you to know with which ear you'll listen.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“I care so much I’m sick.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“When they give you lined paper, write the other way.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Misattributed
Variant: If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.
Source: Epigraph, in Fahrenheit 451 a translation of a statement by Juan Ramón Jiménez

“People don't talk about anything… No, not anything. They name a lot of cars or clothes or swimming pools mostly and say how swell! But they all say the same things and nobody says anything different from anyone else.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“And when he died, I suddenly realized I wasn't crying for him at all, but for the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again…”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“What are you up to now?" "I'm sill crazy. The rain feels good. I love to walk in it.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Our civilization is flinging itself to pieces. Stand back from the centrifuge.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“A book is a loaded gun.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Part 1
Variant: A book is a loaded gun in the house next door.
Source: Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

“Kerosene," he said, because the silence had lengthened, "is nothing but perfume to me.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Do you ever read any of the books you burn?"
He laughed. "That's against the law!"
"Oh. Of course.”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

“Let you alone! That’s all very well, but how can I leave myself alone? We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”

Ray Bradbury book Fahrenheit 451

Source: Fahrenheit 451

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