Rachel

“What I mean to say is, we had been considerable. Had been loved. Not lonely, not lost, not freakish, but wise, each in his or her own way. Our departures caused pain. Those who had loved us sat upon their beds, heads in hand; lowered their faces to tabletops, making animal noises. We had been loved, I say, and remembering us, even many years later, people would smile, briefly gladdened at the memory.”
― George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo

“What I did not know was that I had hit upon a truth of womanhood: However blameless the life we lead, the passions and the greed of men could bring us to ruin, and there was nothing we could do.”
― Jennifer Saint, Ariadne

“One could be happy not only without love, but despite it.”
― Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

“I think it's a lovely hallucination but I love it sorta.”
― Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums