Daniel Kraus > Quotes

“Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love, it humbles my heart, for you are everywhere.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Shape of Water

“Jay's not sure he believes in therapy. He definitely doesn't believe in closure. People aren't doors. They're whole floor plans, entire labyrinths, and the harder you try to escape, the more lost inside them you become.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Darkness is a defining characteristic of Rotters. But it’s worthy to remember that darkness is just that—it’s dark—and what is being concealed in the dark is not just the horrible and fearsome, it’s also the inspirational and moving. Horror means nothing without happiness; dark means nothing without light. Rotters may make you feel scared, but hopefully it will also make you simply feel. It’s that kind of book, or at least I hope it is.”
― Daniel Kraus, Rotters

“No one carries the best parts of themselves. The best parts are those held inside of others.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“(We are sorry we never asked questions)
(We wanted to know but were afraid)
"Of what?"
(Answers to questions have weight)
(And we wanted to stay light)
(We are sorry)”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Seventy percent of the planet is water. Most of that water is deep ocean. The origin of everything. Less than 5 percent of the deep ocean is mapped. Humans know more about Mars. Anything could be down there. Therefore, everything is.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“I don't like anyone. I don't understand why that's so difficult for people to understand.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 1: At the Edge of Empire

“What you do with your time alive defines you, Reader, but hear me, I beg you, when I say that you are not done being defined.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 2: Empire Decayed

“Anomalies like me exist all around the world. So when does an anomaly quit being an anomaly and start being just the way things happen to be?”
― Daniel Kraus, The Shape of Water

“It's funny, isn't it? While we were distracted by the silly scraps that make up human history, you and I became eternal, impervious to rot, infinity itself.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 2: Empire Decayed

“A single life is nothing but a spark. The explosion is everything after death, the generations of reverberation. Every consumed morsel of your body, your wisdom, your kindness, your art, is another bid for perfection, a chance to get it right this time, or next time, or the time after that.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Don’t sons have responsibilities, too? The answer is yes, they do. To hold their fathers accountable.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“What always felt brutal to Jay about the natural world now feels like its most elegant design. We all eat each other, like Hewey said. That's why we live forever.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“If you can’t know what’s right in front of you, you can’t know what’s beyond you.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“There need be no struggle when we are all the same weight.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Let me tell you the lesson of this prophet. Truth never outweighs mercy.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Fantasies. Indulge them at your peril.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 1: At the Edge of Empire

“Jay didn’t find his dad’s remains.
He is his dad’s remains.
He breathes sleepy at last.”
― daniel kraus, Whalefall

“Steinbeck called this ‘the hour of the pearl.’ ” It’s dusk, the dusk of dusk, an unblurred luster.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“(We are dying now)
(There is no changing that)
(But you Jay)
(There is strength in you yet)”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Mitt’s dying plea, Don’t break my heart, don’t
break my heart, don’t break my heart.
Dad’s whisper, at last, gives Jay permission to do the opposite.
(Break it)”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“The simple sharing of hope, its weight not so heavy after all, is a wonder.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“That’s all right. Every hour of the pearl, you realize you’ve lost pages too. More and more pages until”—he whistles—“you’re all gone.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“His exhaled smoke was the exact colour of ennui.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 1: At the Edge of Empire

“(All of our so-called successful men are sick men)”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Did you know sailors and angels are homophones in Hebrew?”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Jay didn't find his dad's remains. He is his dad's remains.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“Ah, the molasses of emotion. How it sugars the most dangerous of decisions.”
― Daniel Kraus, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Vol. 1: At the Edge of Empire

“A single life is nothing but a spark. The explosion is everything after death, the generations of reverberation. Every consumed morsel of your body, your wisdom, your kindness, your art, is another bid for perfection, a chance to get it right this time, or next time, or the time after that. There is no death.”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall

“(There is no fighting when there is no way to win)”
― Daniel Kraus, Whalefall