N.A. Leigh > Quotes

“Today, we’re learning about ripples. Different objects cause different wave and ripple patterns,” the teacher said. “What is the only way to stop a ripple, according to the laws of physics?”

“Help it dissipate to its smallest energy state,” a student answered.

“Excellent. How do we do that?”

“Calm the pond,” Charlie answered.

“That’s right. You need to calm the pond somehow. So how do we do that?”

“You need to cause something to happen that provides an equal and opposite reaction?” Bernie said, unsure.

“Exactly! What happens when you have two forces, equal and opposite, colliding?”

“They cancel each other out!” a student at the front of the class called out.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Arie, you bring out a fire in Noah that I’d never seen anyone else ignite. You not only complete him and compliment him but you are his opposite and other half. You are the very essence of who he is. He is who he is because of you. When he looks at you, he sees a mirror reflecting all the things that he hopes and longs for in life. And that, my dear, is something that no one will ever be able to take away from you.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I’ve been thinking about it. All these years, I’ve spent wallowing in self-pity and despair after my dad died. Yet, I have nothing to show for it.
“I hated myself more and more with each day. I never did anything productive or constructive with my time. I let it all waste away. My dad didn’t want me to become a dreamer. But I don’t think he would’ve wanted me to waste all those years doing nothing either.

“I know it seems very complicated when it comes to our relationship but I do feel that on some level, he did love me. And when he died, I became so lost. He’s told me what to do for so long that I didn’t know how to live without him ordering me around all the time. I felt like a caged animal that was finally free but too afraid to step outside.

“But I have someone that most people don’t. I have you, Charlie. Every day, for years, you’d come to check on me. Rain or shine. And even though I didn’t let you in, I was rude, or I was mean to you, you came every day…because you made me a promise.”

Bernie started sobbing. “I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you, Charlie. You are the best person I know. Because of you, I can rise and get out of bed to face another day. You saved my life.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“My mom says that it’s always easy to see the choices that are in front of us. Sometimes, we get so lost trying to decide what we want to do with those choices that we don’t see other choices. She says that not choosing is also making a choice...sometimes, it’s the most important choice.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I asked them, when I was younger, why they named a bookstore an attic when it’s not an attic but a bookstore. They said, ‘Because, like an old dusty attic, you never know what you’re going to find. It might be something magical.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“You’re a dying bitter old man,” Luke replied, trying to think of something to say to hurt his father.

“And you’re nothing but bitter,” Paul spat back.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“A hundred-dollars goes a long way when you’re following your dreams,” Sofia said kindly.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.’ Paulo Coelho wrote that in The Alchemist. For the rest of our lives Arie, I want you to remember that I love you. There is no reason needed for why I love you. I love you. That’s it. And because there is no reason, there is nothing that you could do or say to take that love away or make that love fade.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I can’t believe I beat you.”

“Weren’t you hoping to beat me?”

“Well, yeah. I always hope to beat you. That doesn’t mean that I ever do.”

“Sometimes, a little hope is all you need.”

“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of.”

“Where’s that from?”

“I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak,” said Bernie. “I’m currently reading it. I’m trying to broaden my horizons.”

“Very good. I’ve taught you well. The teacher has become the student,” Charlie said, laughing.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“...you have a family that despite all your faults, have been there and have supported you. They’ve only wanted your love and acceptance. Instead, you’ve pissed it away always thinking you’re some great and mighty man. But I bet when you are alone at night, you are as lonely as I am. You are no different than me, Luke.

But I am better than you. Haunted by pains I could not control, losing my family was a price I paid for a service that I did for my country. You? You lost your family as a price that you paid for a service that you only did for yourself and no one else. This is what makes me a better man than you and will always make me a better man than you.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I don’t know if it’s the emotions of today that’s getting to me or if you’re there. Whatever it is, I want to let you know that you’ve made an impact on me and my life. More than you’ll ever know. And I know that ‘Thank you’ are two simple words but I don’t know what else to say. You’ve done so much for me and I don’t even know who you are or why you chose to protect me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“It’s a book about how a toy rabbit wants to be real and tries to do it through the love of his owner. In the end, he finds out that he is the only one that can make himself real. That’s you. You’re the velveteen rabbit, Noah. Juju read it to me at the store and I knew I had to get it for you.”

“Bran, this is such a great gift. Thank you.”

“I know Father is hard on us. But I also know that we always find our way. We have each other. That’s all that matters. I don’t care what Father says. Mother doesn’t speak. It’s you and Jos that I care about, Noah. That’s all that matters to me.”

“Thanks, Bran. I’ll cherish this forever.”

“The book says once you are real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand you. I promise that no matter what, I’ll always understand, Noah.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I’m sorry that this is how it ends for you. I’m sorry that your last words were not ones said surrounded by family and friends. I’m sorry that you died alone in hospice and that you left the world without anyone by your side. I know that it’s too late, but we are here. And whether you can or can’t see us, you were our grandfather and we’ll always love you,” Noah finished.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Happenstance. Things happen. That doesn’t mean you don’t have control of the outcome of what happens. You can choose to let it decide what happens for you or you can choose to make decisions to change your life. Get it?”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Always watch over me, okay?” Noah asked, starting to cry again. “Promise me that you’ll always be near. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

“My dear boy,” he said, reaching a hand to wipe the tears from Noah’s face. “As long as you need me, I’ll always be near. I promise.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I took the other one back,” he said. “I couldn’t stand for you to wear something on your finger associated with bad memories. So I got you a different one. You are the diamond in the center; the center of my universe. Everything I have, everything I do, and everything that I am revolving around you; for all eternity. Please, marry me.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Luke,” Paul said, “not everything is always as it seems.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“I still have my whole life ahead of me. Who knows where I’ll end up.”

“So you’re not going to live life, you’re going to let life live you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bernie asked, confused.

“Well, the way I see it, you can either let life decide where you end up or you can direct life on where you want to go.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Ready to play a game of chess after we have lunch?” Charlie said to Bernie.

“No. I don’t want to play anymore. I’m not good at it. I never win.”

“You can’t stop because you’re not good. How else do you expect to become good?”
“I want to be perfect, you know?”

“I know, Bernie. But that’s not possible if you don’t practice.”

“And what if I never get any better?”

“At least you never quit trying, right? I mean, it’s something that you want to do. What would it say about you if you quit everything that you’ve ever wanted to do because it was hard?”

“So what you’re saying is that even if I’m no good at it, I should keep trying anyway?”

“Yes! If it brings you joy and makes you happy, keep doing it. You can’t give up.”

“Isn’t that pointless?” Bernie asked Charlie.

“It’s pointless for you to do something that makes you happy?”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“You need to learn to be true to yourself. You deserve great things, Noah. But do you know that? Do you believe that? Until you learn to love yourself, there is nothing that I can offer you; not as a friend, not as a girlfriend, and not as a wife.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“There was an absence of love and emotion from their parents. But the kids showed compassion and love towards one another. Their kindness, love, and respect for one another were evident in the way they treated each other. For the first time in a long time, Mr. Hinkle felt hope for Noah and his siblings.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Mr. Hinkle could tell that Brandon’s words did not hurt Josie as Noah’s did. His were small paper cuts compared to Noah’s stab straight to her jugular. ”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“It’s okay. It’s a shopping bag,” she said, looking up into his eyes. “It’s what’s on the inside that counts.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“So is the author saying that if we allow ourselves, despair can eat us alive?”

“Yeah. He’s trying to tell us that we all struggle. The sun will continue to rise regardless of whether we want to help ourselves or not. It’s up to us to see if we can get ourselves out of our own despair. We can shake off our own self-doubt to find the strength to move on. We’re capable. We need to believe that we can.”

“I guess nothing is more wasteful than idle men, frozen to do nothing because they’re too afraid to try, huh?”

“Exactly. Doubt and fear have killed more dreams than failure ever has.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Remember that you can’t live your life on a fence. You can only build your house on flat land. Sooner or later, you’ll have to make a choice and stick with it.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Josie, you were my first grandchild. There was so much that I wanted to do right by you. I had so many hopes and dreams for you that I never got to share. I know that it was my fault. I was the one who created a toxic environment, causing your parents to alienate you from me. But it’s my dying wish that you please find it in your heart to forgive me for not being the grandfather you deserved.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“By happenstance, life had a wicked way of twisting his good intentions. Life turned his decisions into swords for others to wield against and cut him. His body, broken and bruised by the harsh lessons that life taught him, was only fifteen.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“You are no better than him. I was foolish, thinking that you were a wonderful brother. But when push comes to shove, you are no better than he is. You have no morals or ethics. You are exactly like Father. All your life, you will end up pushing everyone away. No one will ever be able to do everything the exact way you want them to, Noah. When trouble sets in, you will only think of yourself. You’re going to live alone and it’s going to be very sad. By the time you realize what you’ve done, it will be too late.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Oh, Noah,” Mr. Hinkle said, “don’t you let your father’s words define who you are. You get to define who you are. You are a marvelous little boy. You did nothing wrong. You did not bring shame upon your father. If he’s embarrassed, that’s a reflection on him and his character, not you. Hold your chin up. You deserve the world. Remember that you’re a shining star.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book

“Noah,” Mr. Hinkle said to him, “you are not your father. You are not the sum of your father’s actions. Regardless of whether she wants to hear it or not, apologize to your sister. Make it right. Your siblings are all you have. The world is too big for you to go through it alone.

“There’s a reason why there are so many stars up in the night sky. With a single star, the world would be in darkness. But with all those bright stars, shining, the world’s illuminated. Even during its darkest hours. Reconcile with your sister. Do what’s right, Noah.”
― NA Leigh, Mr. Hinkle's Verum Ink: the navy blue book