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“We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. When soldiers take their oath they are given a coin, an asimi stamped with the profile of the Autarch. Their acceptance of that coin is their acceptance of the special duties and burdens of military life—they are soldiers from that moment, though they may know nothing of the management of arms. I did not know that then, but it is a profound mistake to believe that we must know of such things to be influenced by them, and in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic. The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all.”
― Shadow & Claw
― Shadow & Claw
“If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong.”
― The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
― The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.”
―
―
“Of what value is a civilization that can't toast a piece of bread as ordered?”
― After Dark
― After Dark
“When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing.
And so, laughing and crying, we said good-bye to my grandmother. And when we said goodbye to one grandmother, we said good-bye to all of them.
Each funeral was a funeral for all of us.
We lived and died together.
All of us laughed when they lowered my grandmother into the ground.
And all of us laughed when they covered her with dirt.
And all of us laughed as we walked and drove and rode our way back to our lonely, lonely houses.”
― The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
And so, laughing and crying, we said good-bye to my grandmother. And when we said goodbye to one grandmother, we said good-bye to all of them.
Each funeral was a funeral for all of us.
We lived and died together.
All of us laughed when they lowered my grandmother into the ground.
And all of us laughed when they covered her with dirt.
And all of us laughed as we walked and drove and rode our way back to our lonely, lonely houses.”
― The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Jon’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Jon’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
785 books
|
105 friends
3,505 books
|
264 friends
158 books
|
111 friends
1,001 books
|
90 friends
110 books
|
48 friends
106 books
|
239 friends
12 books
|
97 friends
445 books
|
65 friends
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