“Perhaps this is just punishment for those who have been heartless, to understand only when nothing can be undone.”

“I’m all you have in this world Mariam, and when I’m gone you’ll have nothing. You ARE nothing!”

“there is a God, there always has been. I see him here, in the eyes of the people in this [hospital] corridor of desperation. This is the real house of God, this is where those who have lost God will find Him... there is a God, there has to be, and now I will pray, I will pray that He will forgive that I have neglected Him all of these years, forgive that I have betrayed, lied, and sinned with impunity only to turn to Him now in my hour of need. I pray that He is as merciful, benevolent, and gracious as His book says He is.”

“Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is... God help him.”

“It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make ANYTHING all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight. But I'll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting. - Amir”

“Of all the hardships a person had to face, none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.”

“You changed the subject.""From what?""The empty-headed girls who think you're sexy.""You know.""Know what?""That I only have eyes for you.”