Nujood Ali > Quotes

“Nujood's rebellion, honorable in our eyes, is moreover considered by conservatives as an outrageous affront, punishable, according to extremist, by a murderous "honor crime.".”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

“A divorce party--that's really better than a wedding party!”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

“Marriage was invented to make girls miserable. I will never get married again, not ever again.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Compared to dreams, reality can be truly cruel. But it can also come up with beautiful surprises. Today”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Inside of me I have been soiled, contaminated—it’s as if part of myself has been stolen from me.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Life is really weird, I thought. It’s not just bad people who spread misery—even pretty things can be hurtful. So hard to understand”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I have always obeyed the orders of my father and brothers. Since forever, I have learned to say yes to everything. Today I have decided to say no. Inside”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“It’s so simple to be happy, when you’re among friends.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“We were living rather happily, to the rhythm of the sun. It was a simple life, but peaceful, without electricity or running water.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Sometimes you even wonder who makes the law in this strange land, where many girls and boys beg in the streets instead of going to school. Yemen”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“My mind was made up: I’d do whatever I had to. I was ready to climb mountains to keep from finding myself lying on that mat again, night after night, all alone against that monster.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I’ve had enough of these grown-up quarrels that make children suffer. Stop! In”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“It’s hot under my veil, I have a headache, and I’m so ashamed. … Am I strong enough to keep going?”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“My divorce had opened my eyes about many things, making me more sensitive to the unhappiness of others.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“For her to defend me was a waste of time. I”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I pretend to smile back. But deep down I feel frozen solid, unable to move, with the strange feeling that my feet are nailed to the ground.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Of what use is a court if it can’t even grant divorces on the spot?”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“It is a mysterious place where men never appear in public without curved daggers worn proudly at their waists, while women hide their charms behind thick black veils. It”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“When I grow up, I’ll be a lawyer, like Shada, to defend other little girls like me.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“the”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“This woman has a strength of character that astounds me. She doesn’t need to wave her arms all around to express her feelings; the look in her eyes reveals all the contempt she feels for him. That look is enough. I’ve learned a lot from her, these past few days.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“She was suffering, and it showed. Fares”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I’d love to read their lips to find out what they’re saying, but the niqabs that match their long black robes hide everything except their big, round eyes.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Not only was he hurting me, but my family, my own family, was defending him. All that for a question of—what was it? Honor.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I’ve always wanted to be like a sea turtle so that I could stick my head underwater.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I would never have imagined that my wedding day would arrive so quickly. And anyway, I didn’t have a really clear idea of what marriage was.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“With him, I finally understood the real meaning of the word cruelty. Days”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I lived in permanent fear of more slaps and blows.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“I was alone, so alone. No one to confide in, no one to talk to.”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir

“Perhaps you don’t realize it yet,” adds the judge, “but you’re an exceptional girl.” I”
― Nujood Ali, I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced: A Memoir