Sarah Dessen Quotes

“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, Just Listen

“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, This Lullaby

“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, Just Listen

“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, Dreamland

“Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.”
― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

“Because this is what happens when you try to run from the past. it doesn't just catch up: it overtakes, blotting out the future, the landscape, the very sky, until there is no path left except that which leads through it, the only one that can ever get you home.”
― Sarah Dessen, Just Listen

“The future was one thing that could never be broken, because it had not yet had the chance to be anything.”
― Sarah Dessen, Saint Anything

“But all the love in the world won't save a sinking ship. You have to either bail or jump overboard.”
― Sarah Dessen, What Happened to Goodbye

“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, Keeping the Moon

“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, Just Listen

“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, Along for the Ride

“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, Keeping the Moon

“You're supposed to fail sometimes. It's a required part of the human existence
-Eli”
― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

“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

“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, Along for the Ride

“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

“It all counts,' Adam said again. 'And the bottom line is, what defines you isn't how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike. As long as it's one more, you're all good.-pg 325 Along for the Ride”
― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

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

“Nope.' He sat back. 'Just been there, done that. Done that getting hauled to the police station thing because of it, too.I appreciate your quest and everything, but I have to draw the line somewhere.'
'Wait,' I said, holding up my hand. 'My quest?'
He turned to look at me. We were at a red light, no other cars were anywhere in sight. 'Yeah,' he said. 'You know, like in Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars. You're searching for something you lost or need. It's a quest.'
I just looked at him.
'Maybe it's a guy thing,' he said. 'Fine, don't call it a quest. Call it chicken salad, I don't care. My point is, I'm in, but within reason. That's all I'm saying.”
― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

“It’s so easy to get caught up in what people expect of you. Sometimes, you can just lose yourself”
― Sarah Dessen, Dreamland

“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, What Happened to Goodbye

“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

“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, Along for the Ride

“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, Just Listen

“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, What Happened to Goodbye

“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, Along for the Ride

“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, Lock and Key

“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, The Truth About Forever

“Shit," Delia said. "I mean, shoot. No, actually, I mean shit. I really do.”
― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

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