Quotes from Dave Pelzer

You kick a dog long enough, that dog is going to bite you or die.

Something good comes out of every crisis.

And as she held me, I suddenly realized that my lifelong search for love and acceptance had finally ended in the arms of a foster parent.

Everybody makes mistakes.

My mom obviously had a problem.

Whatever you do for the sole purpose of having others admire you, your efforts will most likely be in vain.

lived through an extraordinary experience, yet I was fortunate enough to learn from it and walk away a better person. I can't change my past, and it does not grant me the right to use it as a crutch, nor am I destined to become a prisoner because of it. For years I have lived by the philosophy: that which does not kill you can only make you stronger. I simply had to learn to pick myself up at an earlier age.

I made sure I let go of my past, accepting the fact that that part of my life was only a small fraction of my life.

But now I know that I can help; I can make a difference, too. I'll stand with you; I'll shout with you, And the rest can't say, "I never knew.

lets go of my ear and opens the front door. "Get out!" she screeches. "Get out of my house! I don't like you! I don't want you! I never loved you! Get the hell out of my house!" I freeze. I'm not sure of this game. My brain begins to spin with all the options of what Mother's real intentions may be. To survive, I have to think ahead. Father steps in front of me. "No!" he cries out. "That's

That day at school I prayed for the world to end.

And as she held me, I suddenly realized that my lifelong search for love and acceptance had finally ended in the arms of a foster parent.

I believed that I was alone in my struggle and that my battle was one of survival. By

If it all ends now, I have lived, I have learned, and I have been loved. The greatest lesson is the gift of life, and no matter what, tomorrow is always another day.

When my time comes, I would like to know that I have repaid my debt to those who have made a difference in my life. And to be at peace knowing that I stopped the cancer from spreading to those I love.

I knelt down, trying to put the many pieces of the letter back together again. It was impossible. I dumped the pieces of the letter in the trash, wishing my life would end. I truly believed, at that moment, that death would be better than my prospects for any kind of happiness. I was nothing but an "It.

The first two ultimate rules of being a foster child that I had learned while at Aunt Mary's were never to become too attached to anyone and never to take someone's home for granted.

That day I wished Mother would have mercy and kill me quickly. As

After years of struggle, my purpose became clear; for above all, I came to realize that America was truly the land where one could come from less than humble beginnings, to become a winner from within.

I made sure I let go of the past, accepting the fact that that part of my life was only a small fraction of my life. I knew black hole was out there, waiting to suck me in and forever control my destiny--but only if I let it. I took positive control over my life. I'm so blessed. The challenges of the past made me immensely strong inside.

Something made them the way they are. Things do happen for a reason.

The only way to keep your head above water is to convince yourself you are going to make it.

If it doesn't do you any good, dump it. Take some action, push that lever, flush it away, and don't look back. Take small steps everyday of your life, and start taking control of what you say when you talk to yourself.

I gave up on everything in my life, including escaping my misery through my school-work. Upon