Quotes from Dave Pelzer

day I vowed to myself that I would never, ever again give that bitch the satisfaction of hearing me beg her to stop beating me.

The body can endure practically anything--pain, fatigue, you name it-- but its the mind that matters.

I was on my own, and every night I prayed to God that I could be strong both in body and soul.

That day I vowed to myself that I would never, ever again give that bitch the satisfaction of hearing me beg her to stop beating me. In

I made a promise to myself that if I came out of my situation alive, I had to make something of myself.

Inside, my soul became so cold I hated everything. I even despised the sun, for I knew I would never be able to play in its warm presence. I cringed with hate whenever I heard other children laughing, as they played outside.

no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press on to a brighter world.

bent down in front of the vent and turned my head, coughing from the dark smoke. A small, red orange fire began to take form. In a flash I grabbed the can of lighter fluid

Of all Mother's punishments, I hated the gas chamber game the most. Towards

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. I knew the 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.

Whatever you do, do something positive.

Children who had difficulty in learning basic skills were to be given special instruction to remedy those weak or unlearned skills.

I learned from Arnold Schwarzenegger, too, that it's O.K. to be pluggish.

I really believe I'm no different from anyone else. I just had a few challenges I had to learn from at a very early age.

I became a war hero before going on to critical acclaim as a professional victim.

You can be a victim of cancer, or a survivor of cancer. It's a mindset.

What distresses me at times is that I meet a lot of people in their 40's, 50's, 60's, who still say they're a victim of child abuse.

Never forget, your esteem is what makes you who you are. For you have been and always will be the total sum of the faith that you carry deep within!

One Child's courage to survive.

I am not the most eloquent guy in the world.

The thing is, at the end of the day you still have to face yourself.