Quotes from Madeline Miller

W otch?ani dwa cienie przedzieraj? si? po omacku przez g?sty, d?awi?cy mrok. Ich r?ce odnajduj? si? i ?wiat?o sp?ywa potokiem jak sto z?otych urn, z których sypie si? s?o?ce.

The never-ending ache of love and sorrow. Perhaps in some other life I could have refused, could have torn my hair and screamed, and made him face his choice alone. But not in this one . . . I would follow him, even into death

I touched my hand to my belly. Your father said once that he wanted more children, but that is not why you live. You are for me.

The space beside me on the bed was empty, but the pillow still held the shape of him, and the sheets smelled of us both.

No man is worth more than another, wherever they he is from

Tell me,' I said, 'how do you know that your father is not right about my poisons? How do you know I will not drug you where you sit?' 'I do not.' 'Yet you would dare to stay?' 'I dare anything,' he said.

Let me give you some advice. Next time you're going to defy the gods, do it for a better reason. I'd hate to see my sister turned to cinders for nothing.

All heroes are fools, he liked to say. What he meant was, all heroes but me. So who could correct him when he erred? He had stood on the beach looking at Telegonus and believing him a pirate. He had stood in his hall and accused Telemachus of conspiracy. Two children he had had, and he had not seen either clearly. But perhaps no parent can truly see their child. When we look we see only the mirror of our own faults.

Yet at least what you loved, you fought for.

I have no need to forgive you. You cannot offend me." They were rash words, bu I said them with all the conviction of my heart.

War has always seemed to me a foolish choice for men. Whatever they win from it, they will have only a handful of years to enjoy before they die. More likely they will perish trying.

I cannot make her leave, but I can hate her.

I have no need to forgive you. You cannot offend me." They were rash words, but I said them with all the conviction of my heart.

I was a grey space filled up with nothing but air. What could I say? One of us must grieve. I would not let it be him.

He is half of my soul, as the poets say. He will be dead soon, and his honor is all that will remain. It is his child, his dearest self. Should I reproach him for it? I have saved Briseis. I cannot save them all. I know, now, how I would answer Chiron. I would say: there is no answer. Whichever you choose, you are wrong.

I am Achilles, son of Peleus, god-born, best of the Greeks," he said. "I have come to bring you victory." A second of startled silence, then the men roared their approval. Pride became us—heroes were never modest.

But the grudges of Gods are as deathless as their flesh...

I would say: there is no answer. Whichever you choose, you are wrong.

and I thought of how many nights I had lain awake in this room loving him in silence.

She must have heard such pleas a thousand times. That is one thing gods and mortals share. Where we are young, we think ourselves the first to have each feeling in the world.

had never thought of having children, but looking at him, for a moment I could imagine it. As if I peered into a well and far below glimpsed a flash of water.

You can teach a viper to eat from your hands, but you cannot take away how much it likes to bite P.85

The Gods love their monsters.

Such a constellation was he to me.