Guus Kuijer > Quotes

“Happy," said Thomas. "When I grow up, I am going to be happy."

Mrs. van Amersfoort was about to pull a book from the shelf, but turned in surprise. She looked at Thomas with a smile and said, "That is a damn good idea. And do you know how happiness begins? It begins with no longer being afraid.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“The angels in heaven covered their eyes with their hands and sobbed loudly, because that is what they always do when a man hits his wife. A profound sadness settled over the earth...God was silent in every language. The angels tried to dry their tears, but their handkerchiefs were so soaked through that is started raining even in the deserts.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“Sunday is the only day you have to push like a handcart,’ Thomas wrote in The Book Of Everything. ’ The other days roll down the bridge by themselves.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“He looked out of the window to think, because without a window he couldn’t think. Or maybe it was the other way around: When there was a window, he automatically started to think. Then he wrote, “When I grow up, I am going to be happy.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“Thomas loved words, particularly if he didn’t understand them.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“Father was afraid of laughter and joy. He was particularly afraid of ridicule. He was afraid that someone would say that humans are descended from apes. Or that the earth is much older than four thousand years. Or that someone would ask where Noah go his polar bears from. Or that someone would swear. Father was terrified.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“Soms valt het woord als een sneeuwvlok,
Soms valt het woord als een steen,
Zodat iedereen zegt: stil, daar valt een woord.”
― Guus Kuijer, Polleke

“— Привет, Томас, — сказала мама. Она подставила ему щеку, но Томас сказал:
— Другую щеку, мам.
— Почему? — спросила она.
— Потому что, — сказал Томас.
Он заметил, что она покраснела. И повернула к нему правую щеку. Он поцеловал ее. Это была та щека, по которой ударили.”
― Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything

“Het Grote Gelijk van het volk kent geen genade.”
― Guus Kuijer, Koning David en de splitsing van het rijk

“Tal vez así mueren los poetas:
cuando las palabras se agotan.”
― Guus Kuijer

“Hebben de goden ons geen verstand gegeven om mee te denken en te oordelen?”
― Guus Kuijer, De uittocht en de intocht

“Ik zou het op prijs stellen wanneer u deze namen uit uw hoofd leerde opzeggen, ook in omgekeerde volgorde.”
― Guus Kuijer, Het begin: Genesis