Challenger Deep Quotes

“I still can't figure out if it's bravery or cowardice to take your own life. I can't figure out whether it's being selfish, or selfless. It is the ultimate act of letting go of oneself, or a cheap act of self-possession? People say a failed attempt is a cry for help. I guess that's true if the person meant it to be unsuccessful. But then, I guess most failed attempts aren't entirely sincere, because, let's face it, if you want to off yourself, there are plenty of ways to make sure it works.”
― Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep

“He will always be waiting, I realize. He will never go away. And in time, I may find myself his first mate whether I want to or not, journeying to points exotic so that I might make another dive, and another, and another. And maybe one day I'll dive so deep that the Abyssal Serpent will catch me, and I'll never find my way back. No sense in denying that such things happen.

But it's not going to happen today—and there is a deep, abiding comfort in that. Deep enough to carry me through till tomorrow.”
― Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep

“103. Magic Mantras and Latex Poodles

My father has the irritating habit of saying the same thing whenever something bad happens. “This, too, shall pass,” he says. What annoys me is that he’s always right about it. What annoys me even more is that he always reminds me later when it does pass, as a smug “I told you so.”

He doesn’t say it to me anymore because Mom told him it was trite. Maybe it is, but I find that I say it to myself now. No matter how bad I’m feeling, I make myself say it, even if I’m not ready to believe it. This, too, shall pass. It’s amazing how little things like that can make a big difference.

It’s like that old Nike ad. “Just do it.” My mom likes to tell the story about how she had gained so much weight when Mackenzie was born, and exercise was so daunting, she didn’t know where to begin, so she just ate and got fatter. Finally she started telling herself “Just do it,” and it was the magic mantra to get her exercising regularly again. She dropped the weight before Mackenzie turned two. On the other hand, there was this bizarre cult that committed mass suicide wearing brand-new Nikes as their own warped homage to “Just do it.”

I suppose even a simple slogan can be twisted into whatever shape we want, like a balloon animal—we can even make it loop back around on itself, becoming a noose. In the end, the measure of who we are can be seen in the shapes of our balloon animals.”
― Neal Shusterman

“Ils rient et parlent de choses auxquelles je ne comprends rien et je reste figé au milieu. Ils m'admirent, mais seulement comme on admire une chose dont on sait qu'elle est sur le point de disparaître.”
― Neal Shusterman, Challenger Deep

“Tout ce qui est horrible porte un versant magnifique”
― Neal Shusterman

“چیزهایی که من حس میکنم ، نمی شود به کلمه درآورد. اگر هم بشود، کلمه ها به زبانی نیستند که کسی بفهمد.
احساساتم زبان خودشان را دارند. لذت میپیچد به خشم میپیچد به ترس و بعد یک تناقض جالب؛ مثل وقتی که می دانی ورای سایه تردید بلدی پرواز کنی و با دست های باز از هواپیما می پری بیرون، بعد می فهمی بلد نیستی و نه تنها چتر نجات نداری بلکه لباس هم تنت نیست و همه مردم آن پایین _دوربین شکاری به دست_ می خندند و تو سقوط میکنی توی یک شومی بی نهایت شرم آور”
― Neal Shusterman

“He will always be waiting, I realize. He will never go away. And in time, I may find myself his first mate whether I want to or not, journeying to points exotic so that I might make another dive, and another, and another. And maybe one day I'll dive so deep that the Abyssal Serpent will catch me, and I'll never find my way back. No sense in denying that such things happen.

But it's not going to happen today—and there is a deep, abiding comfort in that. Deep enough to carry me through till tomorrow.”
― Neil Shusterman

“Anyone ever go splat?’ some pale bozo with a neon drink asks the people running the ride, and then he laughs with his bozo friends. ‘I’d pay to see that!”
― Neil Shusterman