The Lightness Quotes

“Oh, but how could I believe in anything but this? It was right in front of me, and I could touch it.”
― Emily Temple, The Lightness

“Now I know that the American Dream can leave you in a coma or even kill you. But of course, we knew that back then too. It wouldn’t have been any fun otherwise.”
― Emily Temple, The Lightness

“Girls, on the other hand, are master idolaters. They are like catholics in that way, or satanists. All gilded shrine and ceremony. All theme and ritual and symbol. They hunger for the gaudy trappings of faith.”
― Emily Temple

“But most of all, I remember space. I remember doing nothing, but doing it together, which made it something after all. Now when I put a dish in the microwave for 30 seconds, I am paralyzed by the discomfort of unorganized time. Is 30 seconds enough to read something, check the weather, pee? I reach for anything to occupy me. But now I've spent all of my time wondering how I should spend it. And the machine beeps and I have purpose again.”
― Emily Temple

“Soil and chocolate. Cinnamon and fern. Pomegranate baseball honeycomb leaf. Who knows what anything smells like. Things only smell like feelings.”
― Emily Temple

“The moon can easily take on the shape of a girl, given the right circumstances.”
― Emily Temple