Quotes from Bette Greene

Like the Bible tells us, when a man will lay down his life for a friend, well, then there ain't no greater love in this here world than that.

And taking care of somebody else made me feel good. Like discovering you're more than you thought you were. More even than you hoped to be.

Keep in mind that life produces no maestros, only students of varying shades of ineptitude.

Experiencing life through a book can help you learn without all the pain of going through the experiences first hand.

And marking off time struck me as something like counting empty spaces—spaces you know can't ever be filled.

What is genius, anyway, if it isn't the ability to give an adequate response to a great challenge

Even if you forget everything else I want you to always remember that you are a person of value, and you have a friend who loved you enough to give you his most valued possession.

Like the Bible tells us, when a man will lay down his life for a friend, well, then there ain't no greater love in this here world than that.

It seems to me that a man who is incapable of humor is capable of cruelty.

And marking off time struck me as something like counting empty spaces—spaces you know can't ever be filled.

What do you know about sooner or later? Is a moment only a moment when you're in pain?

Keep in mind that life produces no maestros, only students of varying shades of ineptitude.

A person's got to think, otherwise that person's no better than a trained seal balancing a ball on his nose. If only that seal could think, he'd know he was making a thousand children laugh.

I wondered if a blessing is still a blessing if it lasts for only a little while.

It was like that. Sometimes I'd go for a period—days or weeks—without feeling the full sweep of my loss, and then as unexpected as a thunderclap, the realization would rip the protective coating from my senses. Maybe that's the way it is with trick knees and aging griefs. Totally pain free one moment and absorbingly painful the next.

I believe that love is better than hate. And that there is more nobility in building a chicken coop than in destroying a cathedral.

And taking care of somebody else made me feel good. Like discovering you're more than you thought you were. More even than you hoped to be.

Fun, like champagne bubbles, can't completely fill you up.

All I know is that growing up hurts too much. Growing down is what I'd really like to do. Be little enough again so it would be perfectly natural to be protected from the wind and the rain—and the world.

Why is it I'm always so quick to believe that people are thinking...believing the worst about me?

The ways of the Lord are filled with wonder and mystery.

When people's emotions are involved they don't want to listen.

The secret is in absolutely refusing to let the river beat you down. If I had to, I'd measure my progress in inches. One more inch I've swum—one less inch to swim. Once you know the secret, then nobody's river can bring you down.

But don't go thinking that I'm critical of you, Anton, because really I'm not. Not a bit! It's just that you're not here. I'm alone and I'm frightened and you're not here. And you're not ever going to be here for me.