Rose Eleusis

“Without the threat of death, it wouldn’t have been much of a lesson,” said Dr. Gaul. “What happened in the arena? That’s humanity undressed. The tributes. And you, too. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, education, family background, everything you pride yourself on, stripped away in the blink of an eye, revealing everything you actually are. A boy with a club who beats another boy to death. That’s mankind in its natural state.”
― Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

“I've been going to the library, looking up our history. There's a ton of it in anthropology books, Ruth. We haven't always been hated. Why didn't we grow up knowing that?”
― Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues

“But there was no need of wine to intoxicate me. Everything in her proximity was intoxicating.”
― Dorothy Strachey, Olivia

“My eyes filled with tears. "Ruth, there's flowers in my salad."
Ruth smiled. "Those are nasturtium. They're beautiful, aren't they?"
"Can I eat them?" She nodded. I shook my head. "I hate to eat this. It's like a work of art."
Ruth sat down next to me. "That's part of how starved you've been. I think you're afraid this is the last beautiful thing that's going to happen to you, and you want to hold onto it."
"How did you know that?"
Ruth smiled. "I'm your neighbor. It's a wonderful salad, Jess. I made it just for you to enjoy. But the next one will be luscious, too.”
― Leslie Feinberg, Stone Butch Blues