“A surety rose in me, lodged in my throat. I will never leave him. It will be this, always, for as long as he will let me.”
― The Song of Achilles
― The Song of Achilles
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. "No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.”
― The Song of Achilles
― The Song of Achilles
“Chiron had said once that nations were the most foolish of mortal inventions. “No man is worth more than another, wherever he is from.”
“But what if he is your friend?” Achilles had asked him, feet kicked up on the wall of the rose-quartz cave. “Or your brother? Should you treat him the same as a stranger?”
“You ask a question that philosophers argue over,” Chiron had said. “He is worth more to you, perhaps. But the stranger is someone else’s friend and brother. So which life is more important?”
We had been silent. We were fourteen, and these things were too hard for us. Now that we are twenty-seven, they still feel too hard.
He is half of my soul, as the poets say. He will be dead soon, and his honor is all that will remain. It is his child, his dearest self. Should I reproach him for it? I have saved Briseis. I cannot save them all.
I know, now, how I would answer Chiron. I would say: there is no answer. Whichever you choose, you are wrong.”
― The Song of Achilles
“But what if he is your friend?” Achilles had asked him, feet kicked up on the wall of the rose-quartz cave. “Or your brother? Should you treat him the same as a stranger?”
“You ask a question that philosophers argue over,” Chiron had said. “He is worth more to you, perhaps. But the stranger is someone else’s friend and brother. So which life is more important?”
We had been silent. We were fourteen, and these things were too hard for us. Now that we are twenty-seven, they still feel too hard.
He is half of my soul, as the poets say. He will be dead soon, and his honor is all that will remain. It is his child, his dearest self. Should I reproach him for it? I have saved Briseis. I cannot save them all.
I know, now, how I would answer Chiron. I would say: there is no answer. Whichever you choose, you are wrong.”
― The Song of Achilles
“This, I say. This and this. The way his hair looked in summer sun. His face when he ran. His eyes, solemn as an owl at lessons. This and this and this. So many moments of happiness, crowding forward.”
― The Song of Achilles
― The Song of Achilles
“He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature.”
― The Song of Achilles
― The Song of Achilles
What's the Name of That Book???
— 119582 members
— last activity 1 minute ago
Can't remember the title of a book you read? Come search our bookshelves and discussion posts. If you don’t find it there, post a description on our U ...more
Ayla’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Ayla’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Art, Children's, Classics, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic novels, Music, Non-fiction, Paranormal, Philosophy, Poetry, Psychology, Religion, Romance, Science, Travel, and Young-adult
Polls voted on by Ayla
Lists liked by Ayla


























