41 Sarah Dessen Quotes

Step into the world of Sarah Dessen, an acclaimed author whose words resonate deeply with readers of all ages. Known for her insightful storytelling and relatable characters, Dessen has a unique ability to capture the complexities of life and love. In this collection, we’ve carefully selected 41 of her most poignant quotes, each one offering a glimpse into her wisdom and the emotional heartbeat of her novels. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her work, these quotes are sure to inspire and move you. Dive in and let Sarah Dessen’s eloquent expressions of life's truths leave a lasting impression on your heart.

1. “There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying.” - Sarah Dessen

2. “Then what are you like, Annabel?" he shot back. "A liar, like you told me that first day? Come on. That was the biggest lie of all.” - Sarah Dessen

3. “I was beginning to see, though, that the unknown wasn't always the greatest thing to fear. The people who know you best can be risker, because the words they say and things they think have the potential to be not only scary but true, as well.” - Sarah Dessen

4. “It's gonna be okay," I said. It was the first time in a long time that I believed it. "It will.” - Sarah Dessen

5. “I remembered Owen telling me how music had saved him in Phoenix, that it drowned everything out, and it was the same for me now. As long as I had something to listen to, I could blur the things I didn't want to think about, if not block them out completely.” - Sarah Dessen

6. “You're supposed to fail sometimes. It's a required part of the human existence-Eli” - Sarah Dessen

7. “You know, I think I knew you for about three weeks before I ever really saw you smile. And then one day, Morgan said something and you laughed, and I remember thinking it was really cool because it meant something. You're not the kind of person who smiles for nothing, Colie. I have to earn every one.” - Sarah Dessen

8. “It's true. It's like the hidden secret that no one tells you. we can all be beautiful girls, Colie. it's so easy. it's like Dorothy clicking her heels to go home. You could do it all along.” - Sarah Dessen

9. “Holding people away from you, and denying yourself love, that doesn't make you strong. if anything, it makes you weaker. Because you're doing it out of fear.” - Sarah Dessen

10. “Just because something's damaged doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated with respect.''Ad,' Wallace said, 'it's a coffee table, not an orphan.” - Sarah Dessen

11. “Because you have to just go with the flow. Your life is not your own, with people coming in and out all the time. You get mellow because you have to.” - Sarah Dessen

12. “Fine," he repeated, and I wondered why it was I kept coming back to this, again and again, a word that you said when someone asked how you were but didn't really care to know the truth.” - Sarah Dessen

13. “Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.” - Sarah Dessen

14. “But unfriendly is usually one of those things you pick up on right away. You know, like B.O. There's no hiding it if it's there.” - Sarah Dessen

15. “It was terrible and awful when someone left you. You could move on, do the best you could, but like Eli had said, an ending was an ending. No matter how many pages of sentences and paragraphs of great stories led up to it, it would always have to have the last word.” - Sarah Dessen

16. “Incluso ahora que estaba muerto, era un artista de un solo éxito.O dos, supongo, si me cuento a mí.” - Sarah Dessen

17. “A ver, ¿qué hay que ponerse para cortar con alguien? ¿Negro, de luto? ¿O algo colorido y alegre, para distraerlos de su dolor? ¿O mejor algo de camuflaje, que te ayude a desaparecer rápidamente en caso de que no se lo tomen bien?” - Sarah Dessen

18. “If you didn't love him, this never would have happened. But you did. And accepting that love and everything that followed it is part of letting it go.” - Sarah Dessen

19. “I don't know," I said. "Maybe you're right, and all that stuff I think I missed is overrated. Why should I even bother? What's the point really?"He thought for a moment. "Who says there has to be a point?" he asked. "Or a reason. Maybe it's just something you have to do."He moved down to start bagging while I just stood there, letting this sink in. Just something you have to do. No excuse or rationale necessary. I kind of like that.” - Sarah Dessen

20. “Maybe if I'd agreed to do the debutante thing like she wanted. Or taken up pageants instead of riding jump bikes with a bunch of grungy boys. I'd always tell her, why can't I do both? Who says you have to be either smart or pretty, or into girly stuff or sports? Life shouldn't be about the either/or. We're capable of more than that, you know?” - Sarah Dessen

21. “Lissa lowered her voice and added, "I might not even go to school anyway. I might defer and join the Peace Corps and go to Africa and shave my head and dig latrines.""Shave your head?" I said, because, really, this was the most ludicrous part of the whole thing. "You? Do you have any idea how ugly most people's bare heads are? They've got all kinds of bumps, Lissa. And you won't know until it's too late and you're flat-out bald.” - Sarah Dessen

22. “We make such messes in this life, both accidently and on purpose. But wiping the surface clean doesn't really make anything any neater. It just masks what is below. It's only when you really dig down deep, go underground, that you can see who you really are.” - Sarah Dessen

23. “In Anger Management,' he said,'we had to do all this role-playing stuff. You know, to get used to handling things in a less volatile way.''You role-played,' I said, trying to picture this.'I had to. It was court-ordered.” - Sarah Dessen

24. “So say I’m your mom.''What?' I said.'I’m your mom,' he repeated. 'Now tell me you want to quit modeling.'I could feel myself blushing. 'I can’t do that,' I said.'Why not?' he asked. 'Is it so hard to believe? You think I’m not a good role-player?''No,' I said. 'It’s just–''Because I am. Everyone wanted me to be their mother in group.'I just looked at him. 'I just… It’s weird.''No, it’s hard. But not impossible. Just try it.'A week earlier, I hadn’t even known what color his eyes were. Now, we were family. At least temporarily.” - Sarah Dessen

25. “So I left him there alone to watch history repeat the same events retold again and again on his own.” - Sarah Dessen

26. “But there was something I liked about the idea of those seeds buried so deep having at least a chance to emerge” - Sarah Dessen

27. “Hollis " I said "you're messing with me right now aren't you You're in Paris or somewhere and just-" "What " he replied. "No This is the real deal. Here I'll prove it." There was a muffled noise followed by some static. Then I heard my mother recite at a distance in her most droll flat tone "Yes. It is true. Your brother is in love and in my kitchen.” - Sarah Dessen

28. “My point is you're different here. Hollis I've only been here for a month. A lot can happen in a month he replied. Shoot in two weeks I met my future wife changed my entire life's trajectory and bought my first tie. You bought a tie I asked. Because honestly this was the most shocking part.” - Sarah Dessen

29. “But all the love in the world won't save a sinking ship. You have to either bail or jump overboard.” - Sarah Dessen

30. “Fifteen minutes later, a meeting was called. "Okay, look." Deb's face was dead serious. "I know I just joined this project, and I don't want to offend anyone. But I'm going to be honest. I think you've been going about this all wrong." "I'm offended," Dave told her flatly.” - Sarah Dessen

31. “I dialed the number slowly, wanting to get it right. Two rings, and he picked up. "Yes," I said after his hello. "Mclean?" he asked. "Is that you?""Yeah," I said, swallowing and looking out my open door, at the ocean. "The answer's yes." "The answer . . ." he said slowly. "You asked me to go out with you. I know you probably changed your mind. But you should know, the answer was yes. It's always been yes when it comes to you." He was very quiet for a moment. "Where are you?" I started crying again, my voice ragged. He told me to calm down. He told me it was going to be all right. And then, he told he'd be there soon.” - Sarah Dessen

32. “I looked at the sweatshirt again. "'You swim' is a philosophy?" He shrugged. "Better than 'you sink', right?” - Sarah Dessen

33. “See for me, it’s immediate. Silence is so freaking loud.' This seemed either deep or deeply oxymoronic. I wasn’t sure which.” - Sarah Dessen

34. “So," he said as we turned onto the main road, the muffler rattling, "I've been thinking.""Yeah?"He nodded. "You really need to go out with me." I blinked. "I'm sorry?""You know. You, me. A restaurant or movie. Together." He glanced over, shifting gears. "Maybe it's a new concept for you? If so, I'll be happy to walk you through it.""You want to take me to a movie?" I asked."Well, not really," he said. "What I really want is for you to be my girlfriend. But I though saying that might scare you off.” - Sarah Dessen

35. “In the end, though, maybe it's not how you reach a place that matters. Just that you get there at all.” - Sarah Dessen

36. “And guys don't get attached, guys don't give themselves over completely, and guys lie. That's why they should be handled with great trepidation, not trusted, and held at arm's length whenever possible.” - Sarah Dessen

37. “It's hard to do," I said. Wes looked at me. "What is?" I swallowed, not sure why I'd said this out loud. "Get it right.” - Sarah Dessen

38. “Shit," Delia said. "I mean, shoot. No, actually, I mean shit. I really do.” - Sarah Dessen

39. “Mais dans la vie, tout n'est pas parfait. Parfois, il faut se fabriquer sa propre histoire. Donner un petit coup de pouce au destin, tu comprends?” - Sarah Dessen

40. “...You can't unlearn something, even if you want to. You know what you know.” - Sarah Dessen

41. “…You don’t want the best of times to be just one thing, forever. You have to have a lot of bests of times, each one topping the last. You know?” - Sarah Dessen