The collection / 117 fragments

The living archive

Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

SearchTypeTopicEraCulture / collection labelCountry attributionTraditionOrder

Author

Leave empty for every voice. Browse all authors ↗

Reset

Culture labels and country attributions follow the source collections; earliest origins may be unknown.

117 results · Page 1 of 5Play this collection ▷

01Undated

We accept the love we think we deserve.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

02Undated

I would die for you. But I won't live for you.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

03Undated

What about when someone doesn't need a shoulder? What if they need the arms?

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

04Undated

I don't want to be somebody's crush. If somebody likes me, I want them to like the real me, not what they think I am.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

05Undated

Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

06Undated

please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon enough. And i will always believe the same about you.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

07Undated

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

08Undated

I just need to know that someone out there listens and understands and doesn't try to sleep with someone even if they could have. I need to know these people exist.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

09Undated

I walked over to the hill where we used to go and sled. There were a lot of little kids there. I watched them flying. Doing jumps and having races. And I thought that all those little kids are going to grow up someday. And all of those little kids are going to do the things that we do. And they will all kiss someone someday. But for now, sledding is enough. I think it would be great if sledding were always enough, but it isn't.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

10Undated

It’s strange how things can change back as suddenly as they changed originally. When one thing happens and suddenly, things are back to normal.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

11Undated

It's much easier to not know things sometimes. Things change and friends leave. And life doesn't stop for anybody.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

12Undated

I feel like a big faker because I've been putting my life back together, and nobody knows.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

13Undated

So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

14Undated

I just want you to know that you’re very special… and the only reason I’m telling you is that I don’t know if anyone else ever has.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

15Undated

I just hope I remember to tell my kids that they are as happy as I look in my old photographs. And I hope that they believe me.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

16Undated

And I thought that all those little kids are going to grow up someday. And all of those little kids are going to do the things that we do. And they will all kiss someone someday. But for now, sledding is enough. I think it would be great if sledding were always enough, but it isn't.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

17Undated

I hate you."I love you."You're a freak, you know that? Everyone says so. They always have."I'm trying not to be.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

18Undated

I feel infinite.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

19Undated

I sat down and tried to write a story."Ian MacArthur is a wonderful sweet fellow who wears glasses and peers out of them with delight."That was the first sentence. The problem was that I just couldn't think of the next one. After cleaning my room three times, I decided to leave Ian alone for a while because I was starting to get mad at him.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

20Undated

I was in my bed trying to figure out why sometimes you can wake up and go back to sleep and other times you can't

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

21Undated

As you see the opening get closer, you just can't get fast enough. And finally, just when you think you'll never get there, you see the opening right in front of you.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

22Undated

I'm not saying she was lying to me, but she just acted so different before I got to know her, and if she really isn't like what she was at the beginning, I wish she could have just said so.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

23Undated

But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things.

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗

24Undated

Why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we're nothing"; - "We accept the love we think we deserve,

Stephen Chbosky / quote

↗