Ashley | peculiarprintrovert

“He had never disliked me, and the occasional curt greetings and aloofness were not expressions of displeasure intended to keep me at bay. I pity him now, for I realize that he was in fact sending a warning, to someone who was attempting to grow close to him, signaling that he was unworthy of such intimacy. For all his
unresponsiveness to others' affection, I now see, it was not them he despised but himself.”
― Natsume Sōseki, Kokoro

“Ambrosio was yet to learn, that to an heart unacquainted with her, Vice is ever most dangerous when lurking behind the Mask of Virtue.”
― Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Monk

“Perhaps it was freedom itself that choked her.”
― Patricia Highsmith, The Price of Salt

“When does a war end? When can I say your name and have it mean only your name and not what you left behind?”
― Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous