Quotes About Vulnerability

It was the helplessness that scared the both of us.

Put your hands on me," he directed, aware that in such anguish The Giver might need reminding. The hands came, and the pain came with them and through them.

If power was an illusion, wasn't weakness necessarily one also?

But when he's cut, I bleed.

But though you'd never starve your body to wasting and still expect to go on, you starve your heart, yet act as though you can still draw on it forever without the debt ever coming due. If you fall—when you fall, you're going to fall like a starving man.

everyone has their folding-point, Miles. Their mortal vulnerability. Some just keep it in a nonstandard location.

For Berry, you just be there, Whit. Be the one person in the wide green world she doesn't have to explain it to, because you were there and saw it all for yourself. Hand her a clean cloth if she cries or bleeds, and some warm thing for the pain that doubles her over. The time to hold her will come. This day isn't over yet.

innocence based in ignorance was unfit to protect itself.

Honesty is the only way with anyone, when you'll be so close as to be living inside each other's skins.

When the man arises who can make you laugh, solemn Ista, angry Ista, iron Ista, then will your heart be healed. You have not prayed for this: it's a guerdon even the gods cannot give you. We are limited to such simples as redemption from your sins.

So you're saying that I could die at any moment!" "Yes. And this is different from your life yesterday in what way?" Umegat cocked his head in dry inquiry.

She took the story in like some strange, spiked gift, too fragile to drop, too painful to hold.

We cannot protect anyone from being alive, Master Bosha. No matter how much we might wish to.

Could you people stop trying to come up with novel ways to kill me for just ONE HOUR? Or maybe the rest of the night? I would SO like that. Just the rest of the night. Just sit down. Just stop doing anything. Sit down and wait sensibly. Earth, water, air, fire - you're running out of elements here!

Fear is easy.  Joy is hard, said Des. Mm.

Tell her about it," he whispered to the doctor. "I can't." "Need we distress—" "Now. Get it over with." His voice cracked and croaked.

Her hands started to reach out, but then retreated behind her back and consoled each other there. "I am so sorry. But surely you see any girl must be quite afraid to marry a man who could set her on fire with a word!" He'd dreamed of setting her alight with kisses. "Any man could set a girl on fire with a torch, but he'd have to be deranged!

They embraced each other so tightly, they had to back off to manage a kiss. "Don't you ever," he said, voice husky with strain, "pull a stunt like that again." "Don't you ever let it become necessary, again." "Deal." He held her face away from his, between his hands, his eyes devouring her. "I was so afraid for you, I forgot to be afraid for your enemies. I should have remembered. Dear Captain.

Every breath you take from this moment on is by my mercy. Every bite of food you eat, by Harra's charity. By charity and mercy—such as you did not give—you shall live. Dead woman.

The blade left him; a warm gush of liquid spurted from the mouth of his wound after it. Cazaril had hoped to pass out, but he only swayed as pads were clapped to him and held hard fore and aft.

I'm frightened all the time, yet I can't wish myself elsewhere.

Idrene said gently, "We cannot protect anyone from being alive, Master Bosha. No matter how much we might wish to." Her eyes fell on her own children.

Cordelia shook her head helplessly. "You would. A vote. Right." She buried her face in her hands a moment, and sobbed a laugh. "Why?" she asked through her fingers.

It was wonderful to imagine letting go one's guard, if only for a moment. To pretend that safety was something another could give as a gift.