Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch Quotes

Sometimes we want what we want even if we know it’s going to kill us.

...as we rise from the organic and sink back ignominiously into the organic, it is a glory and a privilege to love what Death doesn't touch.

A different and much deeper sort of beauty altogether. The thing and yet not the thing.

What do you think about America?""Everyone always smiles so big! Well—most people. Maybe not so much you. I think it looks stupid.

What’s worth living for? what’s worth dying for? what’s completely foolish to pursue?

When we are sad...it can be comforting to cling to familiar objects, to things that don't change.

When we are sad—at least I am like this—it can be comforting to cling to familiar objects, to the things that don't change.

...not to look back or feel sad about things, that home is wherever I am.

. . . is it better to throw yourself head first and laughing into the holy rage calling your name?

Maybe the one had to be lost for the others to be found?

It’s a long story. I’ll make it short as I can.

I think this goes more to the idea of 'relentless irony' than 'divine providence.

And her laugh was enough to make you want to kick over what you were doing and follow her down the street.

Maybe good luck was like bad luck in that it took a while to sink in.

. . . it is a glory and a privilege to love what Death doesn't touch.

For humans—trapped in biology—there was no mercy: we lived a while, we fussed around for a bit and died, we rotted in the ground like garbage.