Quotes from Ned Vizzini

It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare, you're so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare. And what is that nightmare, Craig? Life.

We look into each other's eyes as we shake. His are still full of death and horror, but in them I see my face reflected, and inside my tiny eyes inside his, I think I see some hope.

You want to play video games twenty-four hours a day? Or watch. I just want to not be me. Whether it's sleeping or playing video games or riding my bike or studying. Giving my brain up. That's what's important.

I wasn't gifted. Mom was wrong. I was just smart and I worked hard. I had fooled myself into thinking that was something important to the rest of the world. Other people were complicit in this ruse. Nobody had told me I was common.

I like how you don't hide your problems like everyone else, and I don't have to hide mine when I'm around you.

It's such a silly little thing, the heart.

They've spent alot of money on me. I'm ashamed.

And when you say the truth you get stronger.

I don't- I shake my head. (...) What? What were you going to say? This is another trick of shrinks. They never let you stop in midthought. If you open your mouth, they want to know exactly what you had the intention of saying.

I'm jealous of her. Can you be jealous of your mom for being able to handle things? I couldn't take a day off, take a dog to the vet, and cook dinner. That's like three times too much stuff for me to get done in one day. How am I ever going to have my own house?

I made that test my bitch.

I'm not doing well in terms of being a functional human.

Every tounge bit had another word to say.

Take these verbs and enjoy them. They're yours, Craig. You deserve them because you chose them. You could have left them all behind but you chose to stay here.

So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live.

I didn't want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that's really sad.

Noelle: But I look like a freak now. Craig: I told you, Noelle, everybody has problems. Some people just hide their crap better than others. But people aren't going to look at you and run away. They're going to look at you and think that they can talk to you, and that you'll understand, and that you're brave, and that you're strong. And you are. You're brave and strong. p.366-367

And I mouth into the phone, I love you , in case some of her cells pick up on the vibrations and it serves me well in the next life. If there is one. If there is a next life, I hope it's in the past; I don't think the future will be any more handleable.

I found myself jealous of the people who wrote the books. They were dead and they were still taking up my time. Who did they think they were?

Everybody has problems. Some people just hide their crap better than others.

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

We're all animals, high school is animals, but some of us are more animal than others. Like in 'Animal Farm,' which I read, all animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others? Here in the real world, all equals are created animal, but some are more animal than others.

You all right, man?' This should be my name. I could be like a super hero: You All Right Man. Ah...' I stumble. Don't bug Craig,' Ronny is like. 'He's in the Craig zone. He's Craig-ing out.

Sometimes I wish I had an easy answer for why I'm depressed.