Ruta Sepetys Quotes

“Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

“How foolish to believe we are more powerful than the sea or the sky.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“...we're dealing with two devils who both want to rule hell.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

“The shoes always tell the story,' said the shoe poet.
'Not always,' I countered.
'Yes, always. Your boots, they are expensive, well made. That tells me that you come from a wealthy family. But the style is one made for and older woman. That tell me they probably belong to your mother. A mother sacrificed her boots for her daughter. That tells me you are loved, my dear. And your mother is not here, so that tells me that you are sad, my dear. The shoes tell the story.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“We cannot be too cautious, Hannelore. Just because someone knocks on the door doesn't mean you have to open it. Sometimes, sweet girl, there are wolves at the door. If we are not careful, they might eat us.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“No Son [. . .] Not a traitor to your country. Much worse. A traitor to your soul.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“She must have been a nurse. She looked a few years older than me. Pretty. Naturally pretty, the type that's still attractive, even more so, when she's filthy.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“My arm began moving, turning the invisible crank of Death's music box. Somewhere inside, I didn't want the melody to end.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“I didn't need his criticism. I carried enough guilt on my own. I had done everything wrong. I had the highest marks in school but couldn't master common sense.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“But unlike Mama, I would not go to heaven. My secrets padlocked the gates. I'd be a torn kite stuck in the dead branches of a tree, unable to fly.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“The soldier stared at Ingrid. His silence was elastic, slowly curling a rope around her neck.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“Revolting. If women were so careless to become pregnant at such a time, let women sort it out.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“...hay que hacer lo correcto, sin esperar gratitud ni recompensa alguna.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

“Vi siete mai chiesti quanto vale una vita umana? Quella mattina la vita di mio fratello valeva un orologio da taschino.”
― Ruta Sepetys

“Cerré la puerta del cuarto de baño y sorprendí el reflejo de mi rostro en el espejo. Entonces no tenía idea de lo deprisa que iba a cambiar, de lo poco que tardarían mis rasgos en desdibujarse. De haberlo sabido, me habría quedado mirando fijamente mi reflejo, para aprendérmelo de memoria. Era la última vez que me miraría a un espejo de verdad durante más de una década.”
― Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

“Per aspera ad astra - През тръни към звездите”
― Ruta Sepetys, Salt to the Sea

“A woman grabbed my arm. "How much for the kid? They won't let me on if I don't have a kid." "He's not for sale," I told her. "Everyone has a price," she said. "But clearly not everyone has a soul," said Poet.”
― Ruta Septys